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| Stephen Lawrence case as relevant as ever, says mum | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Stephen Lawrence had hoped to become an architect | Stephen Lawrence had hoped to become an architect |
| Stephen Lawrence's mother says her son's story "remains as important and relevant as ever" on the 30th anniversary of his murder. | |
| The 18-year-old was stabbed in a racist attack by a gang of white youths as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south-east London, on 22 April 1993. | |
| A report into the failed investigation found "institutional racism" in the Met Police. | |
| A private memorial service earlier took place to mark the anniversary. | |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer joined Stephen's mother, Baroness Lawrence, at the ceremony at St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also attended. | |
| Sir Keir made a short speech and read a poem by Maya Angelou at the request of Baroness Lawrence. | |
| He told the memorial that, "contrasted against the very worst side of Britain, Stephen represented the best", as he said the teenager had represented "a life which shone with the light of potential". | |
| Sir Keir was director of public prosecutions when two of Mr Lawrence's killers were brought to justice. | |
| Stephen's younger brother, Stewart Lawrence, also gave a speech at the memorial. | |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Baroness Doreen Lawrence pictured outside the memorial service | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Baroness Doreen Lawrence pictured outside the memorial service |
| The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation was set up by Baroness Lawrence in 2020. | The Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation was set up by Baroness Lawrence in 2020. |
| As part of the anniversary, the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation has announced a series of scholarships, research initiatives and pilot careers schemes, aimed at helping marginalised young people. | As part of the anniversary, the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation has announced a series of scholarships, research initiatives and pilot careers schemes, aimed at helping marginalised young people. |
| "I am filled with immense pride to witness all that has been achieved in his name and yet must also acknowledge the work still to be done," Baroness Lawrence added. | "I am filled with immense pride to witness all that has been achieved in his name and yet must also acknowledge the work still to be done," Baroness Lawrence added. |
| "As we pass the baton from one generation to the next, let us remain steadfast in our hope for a brighter future." | "As we pass the baton from one generation to the next, let us remain steadfast in our hope for a brighter future." |
| WATCH: Police accountability must not take place "behind closed doors" says Baroness Lawrence | WATCH: Police accountability must not take place "behind closed doors" says Baroness Lawrence |
| WATCH: Police accountability must not take place "behind closed doors" says Baroness Lawrence | WATCH: Police accountability must not take place "behind closed doors" says Baroness Lawrence |
| Two of Stephen's five suspected killers were jailed nearly 20 years after his murder. | Two of Stephen's five suspected killers were jailed nearly 20 years after his murder. |
| The 1999 Macpherson Report into the failed investigation into his death found there was "institutional racism" in the Met Police and made 70 recommendations, many aimed at improving police attitudes to racism. | The 1999 Macpherson Report into the failed investigation into his death found there was "institutional racism" in the Met Police and made 70 recommendations, many aimed at improving police attitudes to racism. |
| Earlier this week, Baroness Lawrence told the BBC the force had failed to change in the 30 years since her son's murder. | Earlier this week, Baroness Lawrence told the BBC the force had failed to change in the 30 years since her son's murder. |
| Last month, Baroness Casey's year-long review of the force found women and children had been failed in particular by a "boys' club" culture. | Last month, Baroness Casey's year-long review of the force found women and children had been failed in particular by a "boys' club" culture. |
| The Casey review also found the force to be institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic in the wake of a series of scandals, including the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer and Pc David Carrick being unmasked as a serial rapist. | |
| Stephen Lawrence murder: A timeline | Stephen Lawrence murder: A timeline |
| Stephen: The Murder That Changed a Nation | Stephen: The Murder That Changed a Nation |
| In a statement marking the 30th anniversary, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised for "past failings" and said the force had "let black communities down". | In a statement marking the 30th anniversary, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised for "past failings" and said the force had "let black communities down". |
| He said: "We offer our sympathies to the Lawrence family on their unimaginable loss. | He said: "We offer our sympathies to the Lawrence family on their unimaginable loss. |
| "Their dignified fight for justice, conducted in the pressure of the public eye with unwavering determination over so many years, continues to be a source of inspiration for us and so many. | "Their dignified fight for justice, conducted in the pressure of the public eye with unwavering determination over so many years, continues to be a source of inspiration for us and so many. |
| "On behalf of the Metropolitan Police, I apologise again for our past failings which will have made the grief of losing a loved one all the more difficult to endure. | "On behalf of the Metropolitan Police, I apologise again for our past failings which will have made the grief of losing a loved one all the more difficult to endure. |
| "We have let black communities down. | "We have let black communities down. |
| "They feel over policed and under protected. We are still not sufficiently representative of London, black officers and staff still face discrimination and are not always sufficiently supported to progress within the Met. | "They feel over policed and under protected. We are still not sufficiently representative of London, black officers and staff still face discrimination and are not always sufficiently supported to progress within the Met. |
| "There are disproportionalities and systemic biases in our use of policing tactics and our support to victims of crime. | "There are disproportionalities and systemic biases in our use of policing tactics and our support to victims of crime. |
| "We are deeply sorry for these failings." | "We are deeply sorry for these failings." |
| The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also attended the service | The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also attended the service |
| Speaking outside the church, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "It's 30 years since Stephen Lawrence was brutally murdered, I remember it well as a south Londoner. | |
| "For those of us who are people of colour it had a ripple effect on us, ripples of hate but also the appalling way that the family was let down by the Met Police Service, by the media and by some politicians. | |
| "Thirty years on, we've not made the progress we'd hope to have made." | |
| Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Murder of Stephen Lawrence | Murder of Stephen Lawrence |
| Eltham | Eltham |
| Metropolitan Police Service | Metropolitan Police Service |
| London | London |