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Doreen Lawrence chides Met chief over inquiry into undercover policing Doreen Lawrence chides Met chief over inquiry into undercover policing
(about 1 hour later)
Doreen Lawrence, the mother of the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, has criticised Britain’s most senior police officer for seeking to keep the activities of undercover officers who spied on her family secret.Doreen Lawrence, the mother of the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, has criticised Britain’s most senior police officer for seeking to keep the activities of undercover officers who spied on her family secret.
Lady Lawrence said that Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, should be ashamed of himself for trying to have large parts of a public inquiry into undercover policing held in private. Lady Lawrence said Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan police commissioner, should be ashamed of himself for trying to have large parts of a public inquiry into undercover policing held in private.
The inquiry was set up by the home secretary, Theresa May, after it was revealed that officers had spied on the Lawrence family’s campaign to compel the police to investigate their son’s murder properly.The inquiry was set up by the home secretary, Theresa May, after it was revealed that officers had spied on the Lawrence family’s campaign to compel the police to investigate their son’s murder properly.
Police, however, have argued that much of the inquiry - led by Lord Justice Pitchford - should be held behind closed doors in order to protect the undercover officers and their covert techniques. Police, however, have argued that much of the inquiry, led by Lord Justice Pitchford, should be held behind closed doors in order to protect the undercover officers and their covert techniques.
Speaking at a conference in London on police spying and racism over the weekend, Lawrence accused Hogan-Howe of making a hollow promise when he said two years ago that his force would release all the documents in its possession to the inquiry.Speaking at a conference in London on police spying and racism over the weekend, Lawrence accused Hogan-Howe of making a hollow promise when he said two years ago that his force would release all the documents in its possession to the inquiry.
He said he was committed to transparency, and that he hoped it would “go some way to start rebuilding the trust she has lost in us”.He said he was committed to transparency, and that he hoped it would “go some way to start rebuilding the trust she has lost in us”.
Lawrence said she had been furious when she found out that the Met was seeking to ensure that the inquiry examined “much of past and covert deployments” in private. Lawrence said she had been furious when she found out the Met was seeking to ensure that the inquiry examined “much of past and covert deployments” in private.
“What the police were suggesting was an ‘undercover inquiry’ ie it should all be held in private. In my view the commissioner should be ashamed of himself,” she said.“What the police were suggesting was an ‘undercover inquiry’ ie it should all be held in private. In my view the commissioner should be ashamed of himself,” she said.
“Our son was the victim of an unprovoked racist attack. We were a grieving family. We had done nothing wrong.” The police had no justification for spying on her family, she said.“Our son was the victim of an unprovoked racist attack. We were a grieving family. We had done nothing wrong.” The police had no justification for spying on her family, she said.
The police have said they intend to apply for legal orders to have the facts and details of the vast majority of the covert deployments scrutinised in private. The police have said they intend to apply for legal orders to have the facts and details of the vast majority of the covert deployments scrutinised in private. They want the identities of the undercover officers kept secret, arguing that they are likely to face real harm if they are exposed.
They want the identities of the undercover officers kept secret, arguing that they are likely to face real harm if they are exposed.
Lawrence said: “In my view, because of what the undercover police officers did, they don’t deserve this special treatment. I didn’t do anything to be spied upon.Lawrence said: “In my view, because of what the undercover police officers did, they don’t deserve this special treatment. I didn’t do anything to be spied upon.
“They chose to spy upon me. And they have been caught out. They now have to deal with the consequences of what they did.”“They chose to spy upon me. And they have been caught out. They now have to deal with the consequences of what they did.”
Pitchford’s inquiry is set to examine a range of issues, including the use of long-term relationships with women to gather information, the collection of intelligence about grieving families whose relatives had died after contact with police, and the theft of dead children’s identities by the undercover spies.Pitchford’s inquiry is set to examine a range of issues, including the use of long-term relationships with women to gather information, the collection of intelligence about grieving families whose relatives had died after contact with police, and the theft of dead children’s identities by the undercover spies.
He is due to publish a ruling on how much of the inquiry will be held in public on 3 May.He is due to publish a ruling on how much of the inquiry will be held in public on 3 May.