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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Ex-Pc held over Lawrence inquiry | Ex-Pc held over Lawrence inquiry |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A retired police constable and a police staff member have been arrested after claims that evidence was hidden in the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry. | A retired police constable and a police staff member have been arrested after claims that evidence was hidden in the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry. |
| The 53-year-old man and retired 62-year-old man were held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. | The 53-year-old man and retired 62-year-old man were held on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is examining claims that 1993 evidence was not disclosed. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is examining claims that 1993 evidence was not disclosed. |
| Mr Lawrence, 18, was stabbed to death by a gang at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993. | Mr Lawrence, 18, was stabbed to death by a gang at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993. |
| Institutionalised racism | |
| No-one has ever been convicted in connection with the case. | No-one has ever been convicted in connection with the case. |
| Baroness Ros Howells, a friend of Mr Lawrence's mother Doreen said she was "delighted" at the news. | |
| Lots of people said they gave the police evidence which was never produced Baroness Ros Howells | |
| "Lots of people said they gave the police evidence which was never produced." | |
| She added: "I am delighted with anything that clears up that mess because it was not just one person who committed a murder, it was five or six." | |
| A Kent Police inquiry took place into the case in 1997 followed by the Macpherson Report in 1999, which found evidence of "pernicious and institutionalised racism" in the Metropolitan Police. | A Kent Police inquiry took place into the case in 1997 followed by the Macpherson Report in 1999, which found evidence of "pernicious and institutionalised racism" in the Metropolitan Police. |
| On Friday the IPCC said a recent internal Met review of the case discovered material from 1993 which was allegedly not disclosed to either inquiry. | On Friday the IPCC said a recent internal Met review of the case discovered material from 1993 which was allegedly not disclosed to either inquiry. |
| An IPCC spokeswoman said it would "consider and report on whether or not any criminal or disciplinary offences may have been committed by any police officer, former police officer or member of police staff involved, bearing in mind the procedures in place in the Metropolitan Police in 1993". | |
| The two men were arrested and interviewed by IPCC investigators at a central London police station on Thursday. | The two men were arrested and interviewed by IPCC investigators at a central London police station on Thursday. |
| They were released on bail until 1 March, pending further inquiries. | They were released on bail until 1 March, pending further inquiries. |
| The spokeswoman said: "The Lawrence family have been kept informed of developments since the material came to light and the IPCC will continue to keep them up to date as the investigation progresses." | The spokeswoman said: "The Lawrence family have been kept informed of developments since the material came to light and the IPCC will continue to keep them up to date as the investigation progresses." |
| Prosecution collapsed | |
| Mr Lawrence was killed as he waited at a bus stop with his friend Duwayne Brooks on 22 April 1993. | |
| Five men were arrested soon after Mr Lawrence's death: Gary Dobson, 32, Neil Acourt, 32, Luke Knight, 31, Jamie Acourt, 31, and David Norris, 31. | Five men were arrested soon after Mr Lawrence's death: Gary Dobson, 32, Neil Acourt, 32, Luke Knight, 31, Jamie Acourt, 31, and David Norris, 31. |
| Mr Dobson, Mr Knight, and Neil Acourt were acquitted of murder after a private prosecution - brought by the Lawrence family - collapsed at the Old Bailey in 1996. | Mr Dobson, Mr Knight, and Neil Acourt were acquitted of murder after a private prosecution - brought by the Lawrence family - collapsed at the Old Bailey in 1996. |
| Mr Norris and Jamie Acourt never stood trial as the case against them collapsed before reaching court. | Mr Norris and Jamie Acourt never stood trial as the case against them collapsed before reaching court. |
| A Met spokesman said it was "co-operating fully with the IPCC investigation". | |
| He said: "As part of the ongoing Metropolitan Police review into the murder of Stephen Lawrence and attack on Duwayne Brooks, detectives recently discovered material from 1993 which is not believed to have been disclosed to the Kent inquiry in 1997 or the inquiry led by Sir William Macpherson. | |
| "Therefore the Met decided that it was necessary to refer the issue to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for investigation." |