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| MPs given hint of breakthrough in Stephen Lawrence police spies case | MPs given hint of breakthrough in Stephen Lawrence police spies case |
| (2 months later) | |
| A team of police officers investigating the activities of undercover police spies may have uncovered evidence that would shed light on alleged corruption surrounding the murder of Stephen Lawrence, it was disclosed on Wednesday. | A team of police officers investigating the activities of undercover police spies may have uncovered evidence that would shed light on alleged corruption surrounding the murder of Stephen Lawrence, it was disclosed on Wednesday. |
| The disclosure was made by Mark Ellison, the QC tasked by the government to examine whether police corruption hindered the hunt for Lawrence's killers. | The disclosure was made by Mark Ellison, the QC tasked by the government to examine whether police corruption hindered the hunt for Lawrence's killers. |
| Ellison told MPs he has been contacted by the team of officers who are looking at allegations surrounding undercover officers who were sent to infiltrate political groups over four decades. The investigating team, headed by Mick Creedon, chief constable of Derbyshire, approached him earlier this year as they wished to pass on information of "potential relevance" to his inquiry, he said. | Ellison told MPs he has been contacted by the team of officers who are looking at allegations surrounding undercover officers who were sent to infiltrate political groups over four decades. The investigating team, headed by Mick Creedon, chief constable of Derbyshire, approached him earlier this year as they wished to pass on information of "potential relevance" to his inquiry, he said. |
| Lawrence, 18, was waiting for a bus with Brooks when he was murdered in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993 by a racist gang. Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, were found guilty of his murder in 2012. | Lawrence, 18, was waiting for a bus with Brooks when he was murdered in Eltham, south-east London, in 1993 by a racist gang. Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, were found guilty of his murder in 2012. |
| Appearing before the Commons home affairs select committee, Ellison said the team told him there were "aspects of what they were looking into which may touch on the Lawrence case with which I was engaged". He told MPs he could not say any more as he was bound, for now, by confidentiality rules. He made it clear, however, that the information did not relate to claims that undercover police were tasked to find dirt that could be used to smear the Lawrence family. | Appearing before the Commons home affairs select committee, Ellison said the team told him there were "aspects of what they were looking into which may touch on the Lawrence case with which I was engaged". He told MPs he could not say any more as he was bound, for now, by confidentiality rules. He made it clear, however, that the information did not relate to claims that undercover police were tasked to find dirt that could be used to smear the Lawrence family. |
| Also giving evidence to MPs was Doreen Lawrence, Stephen's mother, who said there should be a public inquiry into allegations of attempts to smear her family. She said she had no confidence in the police and added it was not right for "police officers to investigate each other", adding: "You can't have police officers investigating each other. It's proven that's not the right way to do things." | Also giving evidence to MPs was Doreen Lawrence, Stephen's mother, who said there should be a public inquiry into allegations of attempts to smear her family. She said she had no confidence in the police and added it was not right for "police officers to investigate each other", adding: "You can't have police officers investigating each other. It's proven that's not the right way to do things." |
| There has been pressure for a public inquiry since the Guardian and Channel Four's Dispatches revealed the allegations made by Peter Francis, a former undercover officer, last month. | There has been pressure for a public inquiry since the Guardian and Channel Four's Dispatches revealed the allegations made by Peter Francis, a former undercover officer, last month. |
| The government has responded by saying that two existing private inquiries would examine the claims. One is the long-running police inquiry headed by Creedon and the other is led by Ellison. | The government has responded by saying that two existing private inquiries would examine the claims. One is the long-running police inquiry headed by Creedon and the other is led by Ellison. |
| Committee chair Keith Vaz said he thought there should be a judge-led public inquiry. Speaking after the session, he said: "The pace of this is too slow. We should listen to what Doreen Lawrence said; her judgment has always been right." | Committee chair Keith Vaz said he thought there should be a judge-led public inquiry. Speaking after the session, he said: "The pace of this is too slow. We should listen to what Doreen Lawrence said; her judgment has always been right." |
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