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| Stephen Lawrence murder: Met police report finds no evidence of corruption | Stephen Lawrence murder: Met police report finds no evidence of corruption |
| (8 days later) | |
| The Metropolitan police has said it can find no evidence that corruption shielded the killers of Stephen Lawrence, adding that the force had passed all relevant material to the 1998 Macpherson inquiry. | The Metropolitan police has said it can find no evidence that corruption shielded the killers of Stephen Lawrence, adding that the force had passed all relevant material to the 1998 Macpherson inquiry. |
| Stephen's mother, Doreen Lawrence, wants an independent inquiry into her concerns that corruption played a part in police failings after the murder of her son by a racist gang in April 1993. The home secretary, Theresa May, is considering the request. | Stephen's mother, Doreen Lawrence, wants an independent inquiry into her concerns that corruption played a part in police failings after the murder of her son by a racist gang in April 1993. The home secretary, Theresa May, is considering the request. |
| The Met released the findings of its review on Thursday, which began in March after allegations about corruption in the Lawrence case made in the Guardian and Independent. The claims centre on former Met commander Ray Adams, who was a senior officer in the south London area where Stephen was murdered, and former detective sergeant John Davidson, who was a senior detective on the first, flawed investigation into the racist killing. | The Met released the findings of its review on Thursday, which began in March after allegations about corruption in the Lawrence case made in the Guardian and Independent. The claims centre on former Met commander Ray Adams, who was a senior officer in the south London area where Stephen was murdered, and former detective sergeant John Davidson, who was a senior detective on the first, flawed investigation into the racist killing. |
| Adams and Davidson had been the subjects of internal corruption investigations, after which neither officer faced disciplinary or criminal charges. They retired on full police pensions and denied any wrongdoing. Adams, who left the force because of a bad back, went on to work at a Rupert Murdoch-owned company, NDS, in a senior security role. | Adams and Davidson had been the subjects of internal corruption investigations, after which neither officer faced disciplinary or criminal charges. They retired on full police pensions and denied any wrongdoing. Adams, who left the force because of a bad back, went on to work at a Rupert Murdoch-owned company, NDS, in a senior security role. |
| The Met has released the findings after more than two months of investigation. It said: "No investigations, nor the inquiry, have uncovered evidence of corruption or collusion which could have adversely affected or otherwise influenced the path of the original investigation or subsequent investigations. The MPS disclosed all material in relation to adverse information held regarding three officers of concern (including those referenced in recent media coverage)." | The Met has released the findings after more than two months of investigation. It said: "No investigations, nor the inquiry, have uncovered evidence of corruption or collusion which could have adversely affected or otherwise influenced the path of the original investigation or subsequent investigations. The MPS disclosed all material in relation to adverse information held regarding three officers of concern (including those referenced in recent media coverage)." |
| The force said it had reached its conclusion after examining several thousand documents and speaking to former officers. It added that material from Operation Russell, an investigation into Adams's integrity, and an investigation into Davidson, were given to the Macpherson inquiry. | The force said it had reached its conclusion after examining several thousand documents and speaking to former officers. It added that material from Operation Russell, an investigation into Adams's integrity, and an investigation into Davidson, were given to the Macpherson inquiry. |
| Its lead counsel, Edmund Lawson QC, now deceased, "came to the conclusion that the material was not relevant". The material was not disclosed to the Lawrence family, who claimed at the inquiry that corruption had been a factor as well as police racism. | Its lead counsel, Edmund Lawson QC, now deceased, "came to the conclusion that the material was not relevant". The material was not disclosed to the Lawrence family, who claimed at the inquiry that corruption had been a factor as well as police racism. |
| The Met review says findings from Operation Othona, an anti-corruption intelligence-gathering exercise conducted from 1993 to 1997, "concerned only finances and administration issues and not subjects". Sources have claimed it contained material about Adams. | The Met review says findings from Operation Othona, an anti-corruption intelligence-gathering exercise conducted from 1993 to 1997, "concerned only finances and administration issues and not subjects". Sources have claimed it contained material about Adams. |
| Operation Russell raised questions about Adams's conduct in the years before the Lawrence case, sources say, but found insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges. Adams told the Guardian it exonerated him and denied any wrongdoing or knowing Davidson. | Operation Russell raised questions about Adams's conduct in the years before the Lawrence case, sources say, but found insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges. Adams told the Guardian it exonerated him and denied any wrongdoing or knowing Davidson. |
| The investigation into Adams began in April 1987, by which time he was the Met's head of criminal intelligence, in charge of gathering information on major criminals and networks. It ended with no criminal or misconduct charges being brought against him but lists concerns, in one instance describing his conduct as highly questionable and unprofessional. | The investigation into Adams began in April 1987, by which time he was the Met's head of criminal intelligence, in charge of gathering information on major criminals and networks. It ended with no criminal or misconduct charges being brought against him but lists concerns, in one instance describing his conduct as highly questionable and unprofessional. |
| The investigation was carried out by the Met's complaints investigation bureau and was triggered by allegations that Adams had taken bribes from criminals and had improper relationships with informants, which he has strenuously denied. Some of the claims against Adams centred on his relationship with the subsequently convicted murderer Kenneth Noye. | The investigation was carried out by the Met's complaints investigation bureau and was triggered by allegations that Adams had taken bribes from criminals and had improper relationships with informants, which he has strenuously denied. Some of the claims against Adams centred on his relationship with the subsequently convicted murderer Kenneth Noye. |
| At the Macpherson inquiry, the Lawrence lawyers claimed Noye had a criminal associate, Clifford Norris, whose son, David Norris, was a prime suspect in the murder of Stephen Lawrence. | At the Macpherson inquiry, the Lawrence lawyers claimed Noye had a criminal associate, Clifford Norris, whose son, David Norris, was a prime suspect in the murder of Stephen Lawrence. |
| David Norris was convicted of the murder in January this year, along with Gary Dobson. | David Norris was convicted of the murder in January this year, along with Gary Dobson. |
| Commander Peter Spindler of the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards said: "We fully appreciate that Stephen's family want all their questions rightly answered. We hope this review goes at least some way to address their concerns and those that have appeared in the media. | Commander Peter Spindler of the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards said: "We fully appreciate that Stephen's family want all their questions rightly answered. We hope this review goes at least some way to address their concerns and those that have appeared in the media. |
| "At this stage there are no new allegations or evidence that would merit further investigation. However, should any new information arise relating to alleged corruption in the original investigation into Stephen's murder, it would be seriously considered." | "At this stage there are no new allegations or evidence that would merit further investigation. However, should any new information arise relating to alleged corruption in the original investigation into Stephen's murder, it would be seriously considered." |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) also released a report saying nothing in recent media allegations about Davidson, had affected the conclusion of its 2007 investigation, which found no evidence of corruption in the Met's first Lawrence investigation. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) also released a report saying nothing in recent media allegations about Davidson, had affected the conclusion of its 2007 investigation, which found no evidence of corruption in the Met's first Lawrence investigation. |
| The watchdog said it was aware of calls for a new public inquiry but that was "a matter for the home secretary to consider". | The watchdog said it was aware of calls for a new public inquiry but that was "a matter for the home secretary to consider". |
| Its chief executive, Jane Furniss, added: "I commissioned this review as I was concerned by media reports that there may be new evidence to support a claim that police corruption in relation to former DS Davidson's relationship with Clifford Norris, the father of David Norris, played a part in hampering the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation." | Its chief executive, Jane Furniss, added: "I commissioned this review as I was concerned by media reports that there may be new evidence to support a claim that police corruption in relation to former DS Davidson's relationship with Clifford Norris, the father of David Norris, played a part in hampering the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation." |
| The IPCC report in 2007 followed BBC allegations made by a former Met police officer turned supergrass, Neil Putnam, who claimed there was a corrupt relationship between Davidson and Clifford Norris. | The IPCC report in 2007 followed BBC allegations made by a former Met police officer turned supergrass, Neil Putnam, who claimed there was a corrupt relationship between Davidson and Clifford Norris. |
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