London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026

Bring in outside force to nail all Stephen Lawrence’s killers, says his father

Bring in outside force to nail all Stephen Lawrence’s killers, says his father

Stephen Lawrence’s father says he doesn’t trust the Metropolitan Police to do their jobs
The father of Stephen Lawrence is demanding an outside police force is brought in to nail the final racist gang members who murdered his teenage son 30 years ago.

Dr Neville Lawrence, 81, says the Metropolitan Police is “not fit for purpose” and can’t be trusted to pursue new leads that might arise, which could let him see full justice before dying.

In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Lawrence told the Standard about three decades of pain and why Stephen’s body is buried in Jamaica.

Stephen, 18, was stabbed to death by racists in an unprovoked attack at a bus stop in Eltham, on April 22, 1993. The bungled original investigation was hampered by racism and alleged corruption. The 1999 Macpherson report branded the Met institutionally racist.

Mayor Sadiq Khan and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer are expected to attend a memorial service on Stephen Lawrence Day, tomorrow’s national commemoration.

Mr Lawrence says he has no interest in meeting Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley because the police chief won’t accept Baroness Casey’s recent conclusion that the force is institutionally racist, misogynist and homophobic.

He said: “I grew up as a child thinking the Metropolitan Police was the best force in the world. With Rowley I’ve made it plain, I don’t want to talk to him. I’m not going to waste my breath. He knows a lot about what is happening in the force. It’s not fit for purpose for black people in this country.”

It took 19 years for two of Stephen’s five killers to be brought to justice. Retired Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll, who caught Gary Dobson, 47, and David Norris, 46, was told by a trial judge the Met shouldn’t “close the file” with “three or four other killers of Stephen Lawrence at large”. Driscoll said he was probing an alleged sixth member when taken off the case.

Mr Lawrence said: “There’s nobody in the Metropolitan Police I would trust to do what they are supposed to do. If Clive Driscoll was still in the force, I would feel more comfortable. At least you have one person. Can they send me another officer who, once he leaves the front door, I believe he’s going to do the job? The judge said to Clive, ‘Go and catch the rest’ and within weeks they got rid of him. So what’s that telling you? They’re not interested.

“If there’s powerful evidence to convict anyone who was part of that gang, I wouldn’t want the Metropolitan Police to have it. If it’s possible, a different police force somewhere in this country should take over the case.”

He added: “I’m convinced there is something why they don’t want this case to be solved. There’s somebody that may be involved with these boys who, if they talk, that person will be in trouble… But I’m a determined person. I think somehow all those others will eventually go to prison for my son’s murder. I don’t know how long I am alive for. I’m now 81. But I pray I see that before I go.” Norris will become eligible for parole next year and Dobson in 2025. Mr Lawrence, who forgave them after being baptised in a Seventh-Day Adventist church, plans to speak at both hearings to encourage them to admit their crimes.

Mr Lawrence yesterday spoke at an event in front of 700 Crown Prosecution Service staff at their HQ in Westminster.

Lionel Idan, Chief Crown Prosecutor for London South, said: “We must strive to work together now, to tackle these issues and the quiet dignity and strength of Dr Lawrence serves to remind us of the need to keep Stephen’s legacy alive for generations to come.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Welsh Government Unveils New Agricultural Support Plan Focused on Sustainability and Rural Growth
UK Teacher Recruitment Shortfalls Continue in Science and STEM Subjects
Police Scotland Expands Cybercrime Investigations Amid Rising Digital Fraud
UK Universities Warn of Risk to International Student Numbers Amid Visa Changes
UK Defence Ministry Pivots Toward Greater Domestic Military Procurement
UK Launches National Rail Review After Repeated Service Disruptions
Northern Ireland Assembly Debates Long-Term Funding Settlement for Public Services
UK Accelerates Approval of North Sea Offshore Wind Projects to Expand Energy Capacity
UK Retail Sales Fall as Households Cut Discretionary Spending in June
UK Expands Border Intelligence Cooperation with France and Belgium to Target Smuggling Networks
Scottish Government Faces Pressure Over Delays in Major Infrastructure and Transport Projects
UK Launches Multi-Billion-Pound Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Investment Fund
National Health Service Warns of Continued Emergency Department Strain Across England
Bank of England Signals Interest Rate Hold as Wage Growth Keeps Inflation Elevated
UK Sets Emergency Fiscal Strategy as Inflation Pressures and Weak Manufacturing Growth Persist
UK Launches New Measures to Improve Safety Standards in Night-Time Venues
UK Tightens Import Rules for Low-Value Parcels to Support Domestic Retailers
UK Launches £85 Million Obesity Care Programme Targeting Early Intervention Projects
UK Commits Up to $26 Million to Ebola Response in Democratic Republic of Congo
Security Industry Authority Flags Safety Failures in Night-Time Economy Inspections
Cambridge South Railway Station Opens After £250 Million Investment
UK Moves to Close Import Duty Loophole for Small Parcels by 2028
UK Invests £85 Million in Projects to Transform Obesity Care
Berkeley Group Warns London Housebuilding Falling Far Short of Demand
UK Council Tax Arrears Rise to £9.3 Billion Amid Ongoing Household Financial Strain
Markets Watch Political Transition as Andy Burnham Emerges as Labour Leadership Frontrunner
Extreme Heat Raises Long-Term Risks for UK Inflation and Productivity, Analysts Warn
UK Health Alerts Extended as Record June Heatwave Grips England
UK Parliament Faces High-Stakes Week of Spending, Security and Industrial Legislation
UK Repeals Vagrancy Act Ending Criminalisation of Rough Sleeping in England and Wales
GB News Pundit Charged With Fraud Over Alleged Conduct as Former Labour Adviser
Reform UK Gains Parliamentary Visibility in First Senedd Opposition Appearance
Metropolitan Police Arrest Man on Suspicion of Attempted Murder After London Car Incident
Ocado Chief Executive Tim Steiner Faces Scrutiny Over £100 Million Remuneration Package
British Chambers of Commerce Downgrades UK Growth Outlook to 0.9 Percent for 2026
Nottingham University Hospitals Maternity Failings Trigger Renewed Calls for Public Inquiry
Severe Heatwave Disrupts UK Transport Networks and Strains Public Services Across England
Labour Leadership Transition Raises Prospect of Andy Burnham Becoming UK Prime Minister
UK Government Confirms Further Medicine Price Concessions for Community Pharmacies in June
British Chambers of Commerce Calls for Public Procurement Reform to Boost Regional Growth
Thousands Mark Armed Forces Day Across the United Kingdom With National Parades and Flypasts
Man Arrested in Ealing on Suspicion of Attempted Murder After Vehicle Ramming Incident Injures Five
Cambridge South Station Opens With £250 Million Investment to Strengthen Life Sciences Corridor
UK Heat-Health Alerts Extended Across England as High Temperatures Persist
Thames Water and Energy Operators Warn of Peak Demand Risks During UK Heatwave
Government Conference Highlights Push for Evidence-Led Policy Across UK Public Sector
Insolvency Service Reports Improved Confidence in UK Insolvency System
Security Industry Authority Finds Widespread Safety Failures in UK Night-Time Economy
Nigel Farage Expands Anti-WHO Campaign Into United States With New Lobbying Structure
Home Secretary Seema Mahmood Unveils New Safe Routes Plan for Asylum Seekers
×