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| IPCC to investigate Lord Stevens over Stephen Lawrence inquiry allegations | IPCC to investigate Lord Stevens over Stephen Lawrence inquiry allegations |
| (13 days later) | |
| Former Scotland Yard commissioner Lord Stevens is to face an investigation by the police watchdog into claims that documents were not passed to the 1998 Stephen Lawrence public inquiry. | Former Scotland Yard commissioner Lord Stevens is to face an investigation by the police watchdog into claims that documents were not passed to the 1998 Stephen Lawrence public inquiry. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it would launch an investigation, following a referral by the Metropolitan police itself. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it would launch an investigation, following a referral by the Metropolitan police itself. |
| The documents are believed to relate to long-standing claims made by Stephen’s parents, Doreen and Neville, that corruption played a part in police bungling of the case. | The documents are believed to relate to long-standing claims made by Stephen’s parents, Doreen and Neville, that corruption played a part in police bungling of the case. |
| Stevens was deputy commissioner of the Met at the time of the public inquiry, which was chaired by Sir William Macpherson. As deputy commissioner, he oversaw the anti-corruption command. | |
| An IPCC spokesman said: “We can confirm we are independently investigating Lord (John) Stevens following a referral from the Metropolitan police.” | An IPCC spokesman said: “We can confirm we are independently investigating Lord (John) Stevens following a referral from the Metropolitan police.” |
| In a statement, the Met explained more about its referral to the watchdog. A review ordered by the home secretary, Theresa May, into claims of corruption in the Lawrence case found “defects in the level of information that the MPS revealed to the inquiry”. The review was carried out by Mark Ellison QC and reported last March. | In a statement, the Met explained more about its referral to the watchdog. A review ordered by the home secretary, Theresa May, into claims of corruption in the Lawrence case found “defects in the level of information that the MPS revealed to the inquiry”. The review was carried out by Mark Ellison QC and reported last March. |
| The referral followed a complaint to the force on behalf of Neville Lawrence last October. | The referral followed a complaint to the force on behalf of Neville Lawrence last October. |
| His lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn wrote to the Met complaining of a “failure of top rank or very senior officers, including but not limited to the the deputy commissioner Sir John Stevens, to provide full, frank and truthful information to the Macpherson Inquiry on the issue of corruption”. | His lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn wrote to the Met complaining of a “failure of top rank or very senior officers, including but not limited to the the deputy commissioner Sir John Stevens, to provide full, frank and truthful information to the Macpherson Inquiry on the issue of corruption”. |
| The letter expressed Neville Lawrence’s concern that the Met had not made any referral to the IPCC over the “destruction of anti-corruption intelligence”. | The letter expressed Neville Lawrence’s concern that the Met had not made any referral to the IPCC over the “destruction of anti-corruption intelligence”. |
| The documents at the centre of the new IPCC investigation relate to allegations and intelligence about alleged corruption by officers involved in the Lawrence case. | The documents at the centre of the new IPCC investigation relate to allegations and intelligence about alleged corruption by officers involved in the Lawrence case. |
| The Ellison review, when it reported in 2014, said one former detective, John Davidson, was suspected of corruption in the Lawrence case, in which he had a key role. Davidson has always denied the claims. | The Ellison review, when it reported in 2014, said one former detective, John Davidson, was suspected of corruption in the Lawrence case, in which he had a key role. Davidson has always denied the claims. |
| Davidson was the target of a corruption investigation in 1998 as the Macpherson inquiry sat. He was never charged with any offence. | Davidson was the target of a corruption investigation in 1998 as the Macpherson inquiry sat. He was never charged with any offence. |
| Other former officers have been the subject of claims and questions by the Lawrence family and media organisations, including the Guardian. | Other former officers have been the subject of claims and questions by the Lawrence family and media organisations, including the Guardian. |
| The Met said: “Following the receipt of a public complaint in relation to Lord John Stevens, former commissioner, the MPS made a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission on Tuesday, 4 November 2014. The complaint has been made in relation to Lord Stevens’ role as the then Deputy Commissioner and disclosure to the Macpherson Inquiry. | The Met said: “Following the receipt of a public complaint in relation to Lord John Stevens, former commissioner, the MPS made a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission on Tuesday, 4 November 2014. The complaint has been made in relation to Lord Stevens’ role as the then Deputy Commissioner and disclosure to the Macpherson Inquiry. |
| “This issue was raised in the Stephen Lawrence Independent Review by Mark Ellison QC, published on 6 March, where he concluded there were defects in the level of information that the MPS revealed to the Inquiry.” | “This issue was raised in the Stephen Lawrence Independent Review by Mark Ellison QC, published on 6 March, where he concluded there were defects in the level of information that the MPS revealed to the Inquiry.” |
| The official Met line has been that all relevant documentation was given to Macpherson’s inquiry. | The official Met line has been that all relevant documentation was given to Macpherson’s inquiry. |
| Speaking to Channel 4 News, which first reported the news on Thursday, Neville Lawrence said: “I’m hoping that they’re going to come back this time with a result that can help us to get further into the truth of what was happening during the investigation into Stephen’s death.” | Speaking to Channel 4 News, which first reported the news on Thursday, Neville Lawrence said: “I’m hoping that they’re going to come back this time with a result that can help us to get further into the truth of what was happening during the investigation into Stephen’s death.” |
| Stevens could not be reached for comment. He earlier told Channel 4 News that the Ellison inquiry had assured him that there was no suggestion that he “did anything that was culpable in any way”. | Stevens could not be reached for comment. He earlier told Channel 4 News that the Ellison inquiry had assured him that there was no suggestion that he “did anything that was culpable in any way”. |
| He told the programme: “Step very carefully, I’m not putting up with any more crap about this.” | He told the programme: “Step very carefully, I’m not putting up with any more crap about this.” |
| • This article was amended on 14 April 2015. An earlier version incorrectly referred to Sir William Macpherson as Lord Macpherson |