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Met still racist says Lawrence's friend Met still racist says Lawrence's friend
(about 22 hours later)
Nikki Jecks BBC World Service Duwayne Brooks hopes to help fight crime as the new councillor for his areaNikki Jecks BBC World Service Duwayne Brooks hopes to help fight crime as the new councillor for his area
The family and friends of Stephen Lawrence are marking 10 years since the publication of Sir William Macpherson's report of the police inquiry into his death.The family and friends of Stephen Lawrence are marking 10 years since the publication of Sir William Macpherson's report of the police inquiry into his death.
The landmark inquiry set a new standard for race relations after branding the Metropolitan Police "institutionally racist".The landmark inquiry set a new standard for race relations after branding the Metropolitan Police "institutionally racist".
Duwayne Brooks was just 16 when he witnessed his friend, 18 year old Stephen Lawrence stabbed to death in an attack by white youths as the pair waited for a bus in Eltham in south-east London on 22 April 1993.Duwayne Brooks was just 16 when he witnessed his friend, 18 year old Stephen Lawrence stabbed to death in an attack by white youths as the pair waited for a bus in Eltham in south-east London on 22 April 1993.
A police investigation was launched, but nobody was ever charged with his murder. A police investigation was launched, but nobody was ever convicted of his murder.
The inquest into his death ruled the black teenager was "unlawfully killed in a completely unprovoked racist attack by five white youths".The inquest into his death ruled the black teenager was "unlawfully killed in a completely unprovoked racist attack by five white youths".
His violent death, and the failure of the police to find the killers sparked outrage across the country.His violent death, and the failure of the police to find the killers sparked outrage across the country.
Six years after the attack, the publication of a damning report into the police investigation of his death sent further shockwaves through Britain and the country's police forces.Six years after the attack, the publication of a damning report into the police investigation of his death sent further shockwaves through Britain and the country's police forces.
The Macpherson report accused the Metropolitan police force of "institutional racism".The Macpherson report accused the Metropolitan police force of "institutional racism".
FROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World ServiceFROM THE BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service
The report lead to many changes in the police force, but 10 years on, Duwayne Brooks tells the BBC World Service racism is still a problem in many parts of the Met. "If we are looking at providing a fair chance of promotion for black and ethnic minorities, I don't think they've done any better than how it was 10 years ago," he says.The report lead to many changes in the police force, but 10 years on, Duwayne Brooks tells the BBC World Service racism is still a problem in many parts of the Met. "If we are looking at providing a fair chance of promotion for black and ethnic minorities, I don't think they've done any better than how it was 10 years ago," he says.
"If we are looking at how black victims are treated by police I don't think there's any change there. And if we are looking at how black men are treated when they are stopped and searched, I don't think there's any change there.""If we are looking at how black victims are treated by police I don't think there's any change there. And if we are looking at how black men are treated when they are stopped and searched, I don't think there's any change there."
He does acknowledge that in areas such as recruitment, some gains have been made, with more black and ethnic police officers visible on London's streets.He does acknowledge that in areas such as recruitment, some gains have been made, with more black and ethnic police officers visible on London's streets.
But in response to suggestions by the Justice Secretary Jack Straw, and Trevor Phillips head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, that the police force was no longer "institutionally racist", Mr Brooks says their experience is different to his.But in response to suggestions by the Justice Secretary Jack Straw, and Trevor Phillips head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, that the police force was no longer "institutionally racist", Mr Brooks says their experience is different to his.
If we look back...we heard Sir Paul Condon say that its just a few bad apples, now it can't just be a few bad apples 10 years along the line can it? Duwayne BrooksIf we look back...we heard Sir Paul Condon say that its just a few bad apples, now it can't just be a few bad apples 10 years along the line can it? Duwayne Brooks
"None of those gentlemen are on the streets of London, they do not get to experience the behaviour of the rank and file police officers that patrol our streets.""None of those gentlemen are on the streets of London, they do not get to experience the behaviour of the rank and file police officers that patrol our streets."
For Mr Brooks, removing racism from the force requires more than just words from politicians. He says official assessments do not always reflect reality on the streets.For Mr Brooks, removing racism from the force requires more than just words from politicians. He says official assessments do not always reflect reality on the streets.
"I still know people who at 18, 19, 20 are constantly stopped and questioned as to why [their] name isn't on the computer data base. Haven't [they] been arrested for a robbery before or haven't [they] been arrested for possession of a gun before?""I still know people who at 18, 19, 20 are constantly stopped and questioned as to why [their] name isn't on the computer data base. Haven't [they] been arrested for a robbery before or haven't [they] been arrested for possession of a gun before?"
Mr Brooks believes that in the drive to eradicate racism from the force, what once might have been called racist is now labelled "poor training" or blamed on ignorant officers.Mr Brooks believes that in the drive to eradicate racism from the force, what once might have been called racist is now labelled "poor training" or blamed on ignorant officers.
But he says by no longer calling it "institutional racism" does not mean racism is no longer occurring.But he says by no longer calling it "institutional racism" does not mean racism is no longer occurring.
"We still need to have that term, that term shows everybody that there is no change in the police," he explains."We still need to have that term, that term shows everybody that there is no change in the police," he explains.
"If we look back to when the Met first had the [Macpherson] report...we heard Sir Paul Condon say that its just a few bad apples, now it can't just be a few bad apples 10 years along the line can it?""If we look back to when the Met first had the [Macpherson] report...we heard Sir Paul Condon say that its just a few bad apples, now it can't just be a few bad apples 10 years along the line can it?"
Mr Brooks says racism and discrimination is a fact of life and there is no point denying it. But it is what society does when confronted with it that remains the challenge.Mr Brooks says racism and discrimination is a fact of life and there is no point denying it. But it is what society does when confronted with it that remains the challenge.
"If Steve happened to be with us now..would there be more racist murders?" he asks. "Probably.""If Steve happened to be with us now..would there be more racist murders?" he asks. "Probably."