Met officer who spied on the Lawrences may be unmasked

THE police officer who spied on the family of Stephen Lawrence could finally be unmasked as part of an inquiry into undercover policing.

Sir John Mitting, the judge leading a public inquiry into undercover policing, is said to be considering revealing the ‘cover name’ of the Scotland Yard officer who spied on the parents of the murdered black teenager, pictured, as they fought for justice.

The officer, known only as N 1, was planted in the ‘wider Lawrence family camp’ by the Metropolitan Police during an inquiry into the botched investigation of the 1 -year-old’s murder in 1993. The investigation stained Scotland Yard’s reputation amid allegations of racism and corruption.

In 2014, an independent report confirmed that the undercover officer was spying on Stephen’s parents, passing on information about the state of Doreen and Neville Lawrence’s marriage to senior officers.

Now Sir John is understood to believe the officer’s ‘cover name’ should be released so his activities and motivations can be properly assessed.

But Scotland Yard is fiercely resisting the move, saying even the disclosure of his false name could compromise his safety by confirming him as an officer to serious criminals. The judge has granted the Met the chance to argue its case later this year in a secret hearing from which the Lawrence family will be excluded.

A Met spokesman said: ‘The Metropolitan Police Service is, and will, continue to co-operate fully with the inquiry.’