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| Stephen Lawrence: Cameron deeply concerned by smear campaign claim | Stephen Lawrence: Cameron deeply concerned by smear campaign claim |
| (3 months later) | |
| David Cameron has called for an immediate investigation into claims that a former undercover police officer was part of an operation to smear the family of Stephen Lawrence, saying he is deeply concerned about the allegations. | David Cameron has called for an immediate investigation into claims that a former undercover police officer was part of an operation to smear the family of Stephen Lawrence, saying he is deeply concerned about the allegations. |
| Labour has also called for an urgent inquiry after a police officer who spent four years living undercover in protest groups told the Guardian he participated in an operation to spy on and attempt to smear the family of the murdered teenager, the friend who witnessed his fatal stabbing and campaigners frustrated at the police's failure to bring his killers to justice. | Labour has also called for an urgent inquiry after a police officer who spent four years living undercover in protest groups told the Guardian he participated in an operation to spy on and attempt to smear the family of the murdered teenager, the friend who witnessed his fatal stabbing and campaigners frustrated at the police's failure to bring his killers to justice. |
| A No 10 spokesman said: "The prime minister is deeply concerned by reports that the police wanted to smear Stephen Lawrence's family and would like the Metropolitan police to investigate immediately." | A No 10 spokesman said: "The prime minister is deeply concerned by reports that the police wanted to smear Stephen Lawrence's family and would like the Metropolitan police to investigate immediately." |
| He said any future inquiry into allegations of an attempt to smear Lawrence's relatives would require the confidence of not just the public but also the family. He said questions needed to be answered urgently. Speaking in advance of a statement to MPs by the home secretary, Theresa May, he pointed to the two existing inquiries into aspects of the case. He highlighted the inquiry into undercover police operations set up in 2011 and led by the chief constable of Derbyshire police, Mick Creedon, saying this had an independent element due to the involvement of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | He said any future inquiry into allegations of an attempt to smear Lawrence's relatives would require the confidence of not just the public but also the family. He said questions needed to be answered urgently. Speaking in advance of a statement to MPs by the home secretary, Theresa May, he pointed to the two existing inquiries into aspects of the case. He highlighted the inquiry into undercover police operations set up in 2011 and led by the chief constable of Derbyshire police, Mick Creedon, saying this had an independent element due to the involvement of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). |
| He also made reference to the inquiry by Mark Ellison QC into the way the Metropolitan police investigated itself over the Lawrence murder. | He also made reference to the inquiry by Mark Ellison QC into the way the Metropolitan police investigated itself over the Lawrence murder. |
| The former home secretary Jack Straw said he was calling for the IPCC to look into the matter immediately, and the revelations had to take priority over the current inquiry into undercover policing. | The former home secretary Jack Straw said he was calling for the IPCC to look into the matter immediately, and the revelations had to take priority over the current inquiry into undercover policing. |
| "I am appalled by these revelations, which go to the heart and ethics of the police service, or the lack of both," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "I am now going to refer these allegations to the IPCC. These are really serious allegations. We need to know who ordered this, how far up it went and why not a word of any of this was disclosed in any form either to me, the home secretary, or to the Macpherson inquiry." | "I am appalled by these revelations, which go to the heart and ethics of the police service, or the lack of both," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "I am now going to refer these allegations to the IPCC. These are really serious allegations. We need to know who ordered this, how far up it went and why not a word of any of this was disclosed in any form either to me, the home secretary, or to the Macpherson inquiry." |
| The former practices of undercover police officers are the subject of an investigation called Operation Herne, which is being overseen by Creedon. | The former practices of undercover police officers are the subject of an investigation called Operation Herne, which is being overseen by Creedon. |
| A Met spokesman said: "Operation Herne is a live investigation, four strands of which are being supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, and it would be inappropriate to pre-judge its findings." | A Met spokesman said: "Operation Herne is a live investigation, four strands of which are being supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, and it would be inappropriate to pre-judge its findings." |
| But Straw said: "My sense is these allegations are so serious and of a different order than those that relate to other undercover officers. The IPCC have to prioritise. That there ought to be a full-scale investigation by the IPCC I am in no doubt." | But Straw said: "My sense is these allegations are so serious and of a different order than those that relate to other undercover officers. The IPCC have to prioritise. That there ought to be a full-scale investigation by the IPCC I am in no doubt." |
| Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, called the allegations "shocking and appalling", and also called for an inquiry. | Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, called the allegations "shocking and appalling", and also called for an inquiry. |
| "We have long known that the Metropolitan police investigation into Stephen Lawrence's murder in 1993 failed badly and reflected racism within elements of the police at the time. There have also been concerns that corruption within the investigation was never fully pursued," she said. "These are very serious new claims about the conduct of the police at the time, and it is vital we get to the truth about what happened." | "We have long known that the Metropolitan police investigation into Stephen Lawrence's murder in 1993 failed badly and reflected racism within elements of the police at the time. There have also been concerns that corruption within the investigation was never fully pursued," she said. "These are very serious new claims about the conduct of the police at the time, and it is vital we get to the truth about what happened." |
| The police who had secured the prosecution earlier this year of two men for Lawrence's murder had done important work, but the new revelations could not be ignored, she said. "These allegations, even though they relate to 20 years ago, are shocking and will be very upsetting for Stephen Lawrence's family and friends. Victims need to be able to have full confidence in the vital work the police do each day to keep them safe and get them justice." | The police who had secured the prosecution earlier this year of two men for Lawrence's murder had done important work, but the new revelations could not be ignored, she said. "These allegations, even though they relate to 20 years ago, are shocking and will be very upsetting for Stephen Lawrence's family and friends. Victims need to be able to have full confidence in the vital work the police do each day to keep them safe and get them justice." |
| Peter Francis, a former undercover police officer turned whistleblower, said his superiors wanted him to find "dirt" that could be used against members of the Lawrence family in the period shortly after the racist murder in April 1993. | Peter Francis, a former undercover police officer turned whistleblower, said his superiors wanted him to find "dirt" that could be used against members of the Lawrence family in the period shortly after the racist murder in April 1993. |
| He also said senior officers deliberately chose to withhold his role spying on the Lawrence campaign from Sir William Macpherson, who headed a public inquiry to examine the police investigation into the death. | He also said senior officers deliberately chose to withhold his role spying on the Lawrence campaign from Sir William Macpherson, who headed a public inquiry to examine the police investigation into the death. |
| "I had to get any information on what was happening in the Stephen Lawrence campaign," Francis said. "They wanted the campaign to stop. It was felt it was going to turn into an elephant. Throughout my deployment there was almost constant pressure on me personally to find out anything I could that would discredit these campaigns." | "I had to get any information on what was happening in the Stephen Lawrence campaign," Francis said. "They wanted the campaign to stop. It was felt it was going to turn into an elephant. Throughout my deployment there was almost constant pressure on me personally to find out anything I could that would discredit these campaigns." |
| Lawrence's mother, Doreen, said the revelations were the most surprising thing she had learned about the long-running police investigation into her son's murder. "Out of all the things I've found out over the years, this certainly has topped it. Nothing can justify the whole thing about trying to discredit the family and people around us." | Lawrence's mother, Doreen, said the revelations were the most surprising thing she had learned about the long-running police investigation into her son's murder. "Out of all the things I've found out over the years, this certainly has topped it. Nothing can justify the whole thing about trying to discredit the family and people around us." |
| Lord Condon, who was Met commissioner at the time of Lawrence's murder, said in a statement: "I am shocked and dismayed by the allegations made by the former undercover police officer Peter Francis. I am aware how distressing these allegations must be for Mr and Mrs Lawrence and I am anxious they should know the truth as soon as possible. | Lord Condon, who was Met commissioner at the time of Lawrence's murder, said in a statement: "I am shocked and dismayed by the allegations made by the former undercover police officer Peter Francis. I am aware how distressing these allegations must be for Mr and Mrs Lawrence and I am anxious they should know the truth as soon as possible. |
| "Throughout the time I was commissioner I was never aware of, nor did I authorise or condone any police officers being tasked to smear Mr and Mrs Lawrence in the way suggested by Peter Francis. | "Throughout the time I was commissioner I was never aware of, nor did I authorise or condone any police officers being tasked to smear Mr and Mrs Lawrence in the way suggested by Peter Francis. |
| "Nor was I ever aware of the deliberate withholding of relevant information from the judicial inquiry headed by Lord Justice Macpherson. Any such actions would have been clearly wrong. | "Nor was I ever aware of the deliberate withholding of relevant information from the judicial inquiry headed by Lord Justice Macpherson. Any such actions would have been clearly wrong. |
| "I hope any review will also establish a clearer legislative framework for the legal, ethical and moral challenges faced by undercover officers and their senior officers." | "I hope any review will also establish a clearer legislative framework for the legal, ethical and moral challenges faced by undercover officers and their senior officers." |
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