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Stephen Lawrence: former police officer avoids charges over alleged spying Stephen Lawrence: former police officer avoids charges over alleged spying
(35 minutes later)
A former senior police officer has avoided disciplinary charges over an alleged plot to spy on the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.A former senior police officer has avoided disciplinary charges over an alleged plot to spy on the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Former commander Richard Walton retired in January from his post as the head of the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command.Former commander Richard Walton retired in January from his post as the head of the Metropolitan police’s counter-terrorism command.
On Wednesday, the Independent Police Complaints Commission announced that its two-year investigation had found that Walton, and another retired officer, Bob Lambert, would have had a case to answer for misconduct if they had still been employed by the police. On Wednesday, the Independent Police Complaints Commission announced that its two-year investigation had found that Walton and another retired officer, Bob Lambert, would have had a case to answer for misconduct if they had still been employed by the police.
The investigation by the IPCC was launched in 2014 after a Home Office-commissioned inquiry reported that police had been involved in a plot to collect “fascinating and valuable” intelligence from an undercover officer. The IPCC investigation was launched in 2014 after a Home Office-commissioned inquiry reported that police had been involved in a plot to collect “fascinating and valuable” intelligence from an undercover officer.
Related: University under pressure to sack controversial former undercover spy Bob LambertRelated: University under pressure to sack controversial former undercover spy Bob Lambert
The Met had planted the undercover officer in the “Lawrence family camp” and was gathering information about the bereaved family and their supporters, according to the investigation by Mark Ellison QC.The Met had planted the undercover officer in the “Lawrence family camp” and was gathering information about the bereaved family and their supporters, according to the investigation by Mark Ellison QC.
He said the intelligence was intended to secure the Met a “secret advantage” over the family at a judge-led public inquiry into alleged wrongdoing by the police.He said the intelligence was intended to secure the Met a “secret advantage” over the family at a judge-led public inquiry into alleged wrongdoing by the police.
At the time, former high court judge Sir William Macpherson was heading the public inquiry scrutinising the Met’s botched investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence by a racist gang in 1993. At the time, former high court judge Sir William Macpherson was heading the public inquiry scrutinising the Met’s botched investigation into Stephen’s murder by a racist gang in 1993.
On Wednesday, the IPCC said its investigation had found no evidence that the undercover officer, identified only as N81, passed information about the Lawrence family or their campaign to Walton, then an acting detective inspector, at a secret meeting.On Wednesday, the IPCC said its investigation had found no evidence that the undercover officer, identified only as N81, passed information about the Lawrence family or their campaign to Walton, then an acting detective inspector, at a secret meeting.
However, the IPCC added that, if the fact of the meeting had become public at the time of the inquiry, this might well have caused very serious public concern. However, the IPCC added that, if the fact of the meeting had become public at the time of the inquiry, this might well have caused serious public concern.
Lambert was found to have a case to answer for misconduct for his part in arranging the meeting while Walton’s case involved his attendance at the meeting.Lambert was found to have a case to answer for misconduct for his part in arranging the meeting while Walton’s case involved his attendance at the meeting.
IPCC deputy chair, Sarah Green, said: “During the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, the honesty and integrity of the Metropolitan police was rightly under intense public scrutiny. The force’s reputation may have suffered immense damage had the meeting become public knowledge at the time. The IPCC deputy chair, Sarah Green, said: “During the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, the honesty and integrity of the Metropolitan police was rightly under intense public scrutiny. The force’s reputation may have suffered immense damage had the meeting become public knowledge at the time.
“The IPCC found that Robert Lambert and Richard Walton both had a case to answer for discreditable conduct in that their actions could have brought the force into disrepute.“The IPCC found that Robert Lambert and Richard Walton both had a case to answer for discreditable conduct in that their actions could have brought the force into disrepute.
Related: Doreen Lawrence calls for undercover police who spied on family to be namedRelated: Doreen Lawrence calls for undercover police who spied on family to be named
“As neither of the men are now serving police officers, it is not possible for misconduct proceedings to take place to determine whether or not the case would be proven.”“As neither of the men are now serving police officers, it is not possible for misconduct proceedings to take place to determine whether or not the case would be proven.”
Lambert ran covert operations infiltrating political groups in the 1990s after working undercover himself in the 1980s when he fathered a child with an activist. He retired from the police in 2007, before revelations about the work of the undercover officers began to emerge.Lambert ran covert operations infiltrating political groups in the 1990s after working undercover himself in the 1980s when he fathered a child with an activist. He retired from the police in 2007, before revelations about the work of the undercover officers began to emerge.
Walton has previously said that he had intended for 30 years to retire in January and had informed the IPCC of his intention. He had said he was disappointed that the IPCC’s investigation had taken two years to complete “especially as I am strong supporter of police officers being publicly accountable.” Walton has previously said that he had intended for 30 years to retire in January and had informed the IPCC of his intention. He had said he was disappointed that the IPCC’s investigation had taken two years to complete “especially as I am strong supporter of police officers being publicly accountable”.
In 1999, Macpherson branded the Met “institutionally racist” over its failings that allowed the teenager’s killers to escape justice.In 1999, Macpherson branded the Met “institutionally racist” over its failings that allowed the teenager’s killers to escape justice.
Ellison’s report in March 2014 prompted the home secretary, Theresa May, to appoint a senior judge to lead another public inquiry, this time to examine a wide range of allegations surrounding the conduct of undercover police officers since 1968.Ellison’s report in March 2014 prompted the home secretary, Theresa May, to appoint a senior judge to lead another public inquiry, this time to examine a wide range of allegations surrounding the conduct of undercover police officers since 1968.
The latest inquiry, led by Lord Justice Pitchford, is preparing to hold public hearings into the police’s covert infiltration of hundreds of political groups.The latest inquiry, led by Lord Justice Pitchford, is preparing to hold public hearings into the police’s covert infiltration of hundreds of political groups.
Pitchford will be scrutinising issues such as the long-term relationships formed by undercover officers with women, the theft of dead children’s identities, and the monitoring of politicians. Pitchford will be scrutinising issues such as the long-term relationships formed by undercover officers with women, the theft of dead children’s identities and the monitoring of politicians.