Stephen Lawrence's mother has said we have yet to achieve a "truly united kingdom" despite a decade of efforts to overhaul race relations.
Stephen Lawrence's mother has said we have yet to achieve a "truly united kingdom" despite a decade of efforts to overhaul race relations.
Doreen Lawrence was speaking at a conference to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Macpherson report.
Doreen Lawrence was speaking at a conference to mark the 10-year anniversary of the Macpherson report.
The report, published after the 18-year-old's murder, heavily criticised the approach and attitude of the force.
The report, published after the 18-year-old's murder, heavily criticised the approach and attitude of the force.
She said society was in danger of becoming complacent while racism continues to haunt our institutions.
She said society was in danger of becoming complacent while racism continues to haunt our institutions.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson were in the audience as she spoke to the conference in central London.
Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson were in the audience as she spoke to the conference in central London.
'Devastating murder'
'Devastating murder'
Mrs Lawrence said racism must remain at the top of the agenda, highlighting a disproportionate use of stop and search, a lack of senior black and ethnic minority teachers and a shortage of effective oversight of race issues in government.
Mrs Lawrence said racism must remain at the top of the agenda, highlighting a disproportionate use of stop and search, a lack of senior black and ethnic minority teachers and a shortage of effective oversight of race issues in government.
She said: "It has been 15 years, 10 months and two days since the devastating murder of my son, Stephen Lawrence.
She said: "It has been 15 years, 10 months and two days since the devastating murder of my son, Stephen Lawrence.
"The sheer brutality of Stephen's wounds should have shocked the police into action to take down his killers.
"The sheer brutality of Stephen's wounds should have shocked the police into action to take down his killers.
The most important need is to make sure that we are providing the right service for the community that we serve Doreen Lawrence
The most important need is to make sure that we are providing the right service for the community that we serve Doreen Lawrence
"In the years that followed, our family had to fight all of the levels of the justice system, which has repeatedly denied us justice for his death."
"In the years that followed, our family had to fight all of the levels of the justice system, which has repeatedly denied us justice for his death."
She said "racism and incompetence" were to blame for the failure of police to catch her son's killers.
She said "racism and incompetence" were to blame for the failure of police to catch her son's killers.
"The most important need is to make sure that we are providing the right service for the community that we serve."
"The most important need is to make sure that we are providing the right service for the community that we serve."
The conference was organised by the National Police Improvement Agency to examine what progress has been made since the report was published.
The conference was organised by the National Police Improvement Agency to examine what progress has been made since the report was published.
'Institutionally racist'
'Institutionally racist'
Mr Lawrence was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, in a racist attack by a gang of white youths.
Mr Lawrence was stabbed to death in Eltham, south-east London, in a racist attack by a gang of white youths.
No-one has ever been convicted of the murder.
No-one has ever been convicted of the murder.
The Macpherson Report blamed "a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership" for the mistakes in the investigation.
The Macpherson Report blamed "a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership" for the mistakes in the investigation.
Government ministers and senior officers have been working ever since to overturn the tag of "institutionally racist" from the Metropolitan Police and other forces.
Government ministers and senior officers have been working ever since to overturn the tag of "institutionally racist" from the Metropolitan Police and other forces.
Richard Stone, a panel member of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, said there had been a "huge transformation in the professionalism of the police force".
Richard Stone, a panel member of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry, said there had been a "huge transformation in the professionalism of the police force".
There needs to be determination from the top in order to improve policing for the whole of society Richard Stone
There needs to be determination from the top in order to improve policing for the whole of society Richard Stone
But he added: "There remains a problem in the disparity of stop and search and discrimination of black police officers. These problems are due to institutional racism. There needs to be determination from the top in order to improve policing for the whole of society."
But he added: "There remains a problem in the disparity of stop and search and discrimination of black police officers. These problems are due to institutional racism. There needs to be determination from the top in order to improve policing for the whole of society."
Chairman of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, Alfred John said institutional racism remained a problem in the Met police.
Chairman of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, Alfred John said institutional racism remained a problem in the Met police.
He said: "The death of Stephen Lawrence undoubtedly promised a new era of police race relations. In the wake of his legacy, we acknowledge the progress made within the Metropolitan Police Service.
He said: "The death of Stephen Lawrence undoubtedly promised a new era of police race relations. In the wake of his legacy, we acknowledge the progress made within the Metropolitan Police Service.
"However, there is undisputed evidence of disproportionality in stop and search, stunted career progression for black and minority ethnic personnel coupled with higher levels of disciplinary actions against people of colour."
"However, there is undisputed evidence of disproportionality in stop and search, stunted career progression for black and minority ethnic personnel coupled with higher levels of disciplinary actions against people of colour."
He urged the force to admit the problems so they can be resolved.
He urged the force to admit the problems so they can be resolved.
Important role
Important role
The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales said it believed significant progress had been made in the recruitment and retention of black minority ethnic officers in the last ten years.
The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales said it believed significant progress had been made in the recruitment and retention of black minority ethnic officers in the last ten years.
Chief Superintendent Ian Johnston, president of the association said: "All minority groups should be encouraged to join what is considered to be the finest police service in the world."
Chief Superintendent Ian Johnston, president of the association said: "All minority groups should be encouraged to join what is considered to be the finest police service in the world."
The Runnymede Trust, chaired by Richard Stone, published a review of the progress earlier this month.
The Runnymede Trust, chaired by Richard Stone, published a review of the progress earlier this month.
Black and Asian people still suffered discrimination in the police service and at the hands of the police, it concluded.
Black and Asian people still suffered discrimination in the police service and at the hands of the police, it concluded.
But a report by Trevor Phillips, head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, found the police could no longer be accused of institutional racism.
But a report by Trevor Phillips, head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, found the police could no longer be accused of institutional racism.
Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Are you a serving police officer? What is your experience? Has the Macpherson report made a difference? Send us your comments using the form below.
Have you been affected by the issues in this story? Are you a serving police officer? What is your experience? Has the Macpherson report made a difference? Send us your comments using the form below.
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