Lawrence: Violence is worse now than 1993
THE father of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence fears violence on Britain’s streets is “actually worse now” than when his son was stabbed to death more than a quarter of a century ago.
Neville Lawrence said just after Stephen’s murder by a gang of racists as he waited for a bus in Eltham, southeast London in 1993, that he believed it was vital to stop the “mayhem” of violent crime.
The subsequent public inquiry into the 18 year old’s death, known as the Macpherson Report, in 1999 branded the Metropolitan Police “institutionally racist” over its failing to properly investigate Stephen’s murder.
It took nearly 20 years for two of his killers to finally be brought to justice. Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed for life in 2012.
Speaking on the 20th anniversary of the Macpherson Report today, Mr Lawrence called for a new body to be set up to ensure its findings are implemented and the police are held to account.
He said: “When my son was murdered I felt it was really important to help stop the mayhem by getting the recommendations in the Macpherson Report implemented. But while it was mayhem then, it is actually worse now. The report was Stephen’s legacy and crucial reform was brought in as a result.
“But that legacy is at risk as there is no steering group ensuring the report’s findings are carried out.
“Nobody is holding police forces to account and I think it is really important that a group is formed again to carry out this work.
“The police could be paying lip service to the recommendations and we would never know. While a lot of things have improved, the disproportionate number of black people being subject to stop and search continues to increase, as do the numbers of BAME [black, Asian and minority ethnic] people dying after use of police force and restraint. Black people also remain disproportionately the victims of violent crime.”
His remarks come as a 19-year-old man died after he was stabbed by a gang wielding knives and guns in Wood Green, north London, on Friday.
A man, 20, was also stabbed in the attack as well as being shot at 8pm. His condition is non life-threatening.
On Wednesday a 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Sara Park in Birmingham. He was named yesterday as Abdullah Muhammad. He was the second boy stabbed to death in the city in a week. Mohammed Sidali, 16, died after he was stabbed outside a college.