Vital lessons learned

NO one has been more critical than the Mail of Scotland Yard’s early handling of Stephen Lawrence’s murder. If it hadn’t been for the initial incompetence and indifference, all five killers – named as murderers by this paper – could be in jail.

But as the case is effectively closed after 25 years, this paper acknowledges the police have done much to atone since.

Not only has their remarkable detective work – very late in the day – brought two of the guilty to justice, but they have learned vital lessons about banishing casual racism from the force. It may be cold comfort to his grieving parents, but Stephen did not die in vain.