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Met chief says Lawrence convictions took 'too long' Stephen Lawrence murder: 'We will catch those involved'
(about 1 hour later)
London's police commissioner says the Met took "too long" to convict two of Stephen Lawrence's murderers. London's police commissioner has vowed the Met will catch and prosecute all of those involved in Stephen Lawrence's murder.
But Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe added that the police "have improved greatly" in the years since the teenager was killed in a racially motivated attack. The comments come 20 years after the teenager was murdered as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south London.
The 20-year investigation has been mired in allegations of police incompetence and institutional racism. Two men, Gary Dobson, 37, and David Norris, 36, were jailed for life after being found guilty last year of the attack.
Prime Minister David Cameron said the aspiring architect's murder had sparked a "monumental change in our society". Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said it had taken "too long" to convict the pair.
Stephen was stabbed on 22 April 1993, as he waited for a bus in Eltham, south-east London. He was 18 years old. "After taking too long, we did get convictions in two cases last year and what we're going to do is catch the other people involved," Sir Bernard said.
He was set upon by five or six attackers, including Gary Dobson and David Norris, who were jailed last year. "We still have got suspects identified."
Sir Bernard, speaking ahead of a memorial service to mark 20 years since Stephen's death, vowed that the Met would catch the others involved. The investigation was initially mired in allegations of police incompetence and institutional racism.
The memorial service will be held at St Martin-in-the-Fields later today, and will be attended by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg. Sir Bernard said the police "have improved greatly" in the years since the murder, and that there were now around 3,000 black and ethnic monitory officers in the Met.
A memorial service will be held at St Martin-in-the-Fields later.
'Tireless efforts''Tireless efforts'
Mr Cameron praised the efforts of Stephen's family to bring the perpetrators to justice. "The senseless killing of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 was a tragedy," Prime Minister David Cameron said.
"The senseless killing of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 was a tragedy," he said.
"It was also a moment that sparked monumental change in our society - change that has been brought about by the tireless efforts of Stephen's family in challenging the police, government and society to examine themselves and ask difficult questions."It was also a moment that sparked monumental change in our society - change that has been brought about by the tireless efforts of Stephen's family in challenging the police, government and society to examine themselves and ask difficult questions.
"Much has been achieved, but we know that more still needs to be done. We owe this to the memory of Stephen.""Much has been achieved, but we know that more still needs to be done. We owe this to the memory of Stephen."
Brian Cathcart, who wrote a book about the Stephen Lawrence case, says Mr Cameron is right.Brian Cathcart, who wrote a book about the Stephen Lawrence case, says Mr Cameron is right.
"It was, I think, the first time that the British public - the white British public - engaged with a black family which had a grievance and shared, in a way, in their anger and their grief.""It was, I think, the first time that the British public - the white British public - engaged with a black family which had a grievance and shared, in a way, in their anger and their grief."
'The Met won't forget'
A poster has been put up in New Scotland Yard with a personal message from Sir Bernard.A poster has been put up in New Scotland Yard with a personal message from Sir Bernard.
It reads: "Twenty years ago the Lawrence family lost their loved son, Stephen.It reads: "Twenty years ago the Lawrence family lost their loved son, Stephen.
"We let them down by not catching his murderers. Then last year we finally brought two of his killers to justice. The Met won't forget Stephen Lawrence.""We let them down by not catching his murderers. Then last year we finally brought two of his killers to justice. The Met won't forget Stephen Lawrence."
Stephen's father Neville has chosen to remember his son privately in Jamaica, taking flowers to his grave and saying a prayer with a friend who is a pastor.Stephen's father Neville has chosen to remember his son privately in Jamaica, taking flowers to his grave and saying a prayer with a friend who is a pastor.