The Met announces it is stepping down its investigation into Stephen Lawrence murder

The Met has said its investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence 27 years ago has reached the end of the road – for now.

The force believes it has exhausted all lines of inquiry and the investigation is to be moved into an ‘inactive phase’, with only two of the five core suspects have been convicted of the murder.

The force has confirmed the active investigation into the racist killing in Eltham in 1993 has reached the stage where all identified lines of enquiry have been completed. “The investigation will now move to an inactive phase,” its statement said.

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Cressida Dick, said: “This was an appalling racist murder and I am sad that we have been unable to secure further convictions for Stephen, his family and friends. I, and the senior investigator in charge of the case, Chris Le Pere, have met with Baroness Lawrence and Mr Lawrence and fully explained the work the team have been doing, and why we are now at this stage.

“The investigation has now moved to an ‘inactive’ phase, but I have given Stephen’s family the assurance that we will continue to deal with any new information that comes to light.

“The investigation into Stephen’s murder will also be periodically reviewed for any further investigative opportunities which may arise, for example with advances in technology.

“Mr Brooks, who was with Stephen on the night he died, has also been advised of the decision.

“We were able to secure two convictions following a determined investigation in 2012 but it is well known that other suspects were also involved in the events which unfolded that night and it is deeply frustrating that we have been unable to bring them to justice.

“As a result of ceaseless campaigning for justice by Stephen’s parents, profound changes have happened in policing, the law and wider society. I pay tribute to them for their courage and achievements.

”And today my thoughts are with them and all Stephen’s loved ones.”

The latest phase of the investigation into Stephen’s murder began in January 2014, with DCI Le Pere taking over as the lead officer. He reviewed all the material in the case, including previous forensic examinations and results.

The team looked at further forensic tests and retesting using DNA technology – which had not previously been available – on more than 50 exhibits recovered at the crime scene on the night of the murder. These included Stephen’s clothing and personal effects as well as items from the core suspects.

They uncovered the DNA of a woman, taken from a bag strap discarded at the scene of Stephen’s murder.

A public appeal for information was made in September 2016 to identify the woman, a potential witness in the case.

They also asked for help to find a man wearing a jacket with a distinctive ‘ V’ shaped emblem, seen on the evening of Stephen’s murder in Well Hall Road area. There was also an appeal for a man who had called Crimewatch in April 2013 saying he had information, asking him to call again.

The appeal generated more than 40 lines of enquiry – but neither was traced.

In April 2018, to mark 25 years since Stephen’s murder, the Met issued a further public appeal for anyone with information about what happened to Stephen on the night. The force also co-operated in the making of  documentary “Stephen: A Murder That Changed A Nation”, broadcast that month.

The Lawrence family was told then that they were nearing the last lines of the enquiry. New leads needed to be thoroughly investigated but those enquiries have now come to an end without any arrests.

Since 2014, the team has taken more than 240 new witness statements, conducted a mass screening of over 360 women to identify the woman’s DNA profile extracted from the bag strap, created more than 1,880 documents and messages and initiated thousands of overt and covert tactics to follow those leads.

This case will now be managed by officers within the Special Casework Team, Central Specialist Crime, and any new information that does come in will be fully reviewed. The case will also be subject to review every two years to see if forensic clues can be followed. Two officers from the investigation will be relocated to the Special Casework Team with their knowledge of the case.

Stephen was 18 when he was murdered during an unprovoked racist attack on 22 April 1993. He was with his friend Duwayne Brooks when he was attacked by a group of men on Well Hall Road in Eltham.

An initial investigation by the Metropolitan Police identified five suspects, who were each arrested by officers and questioned about their involvement in Stephen’s killing. Following an identification parade, Neil Acourt and Luke Knight were charged with murder but these charges were discontinued at court.

Stephen’s family mounted a private prosecution against the original five suspects in the case in September 1994. Two years later, in April 1996, Luke Knight, Neil Acourt and Gary Dobson were acquitted when key evidence was declared inadmissible by the judge at the Central Criminal Court. The cases against Jamie Acourt and David Norris were also discontinued.

The coronial inquest into the death of Stephen was held in February 1997. The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing, saying his death was a result of an unprovoked, racist attack by five white youths. The five suspects were each compelled to attend the inquest, but did not answer any questions.

The same year, an investigation by the Police Complaints Authority, undertaken by Kent Police, revealed there were weaknesses and lost opportunities in the original police investigation.

Later that year, the then Home Secretary Jack Straw ordered a public inquiry to be headed by former High Court Judge Sir William McPherson. The inquiry looked into the police investigation and culture at the Met. All five suspects were compelled to give evidence during this inquiry.

The McPherson report was published in February 1999. It accused the Met of being “institutionally racist” and made 70 recommendations. This included a recommendation that the Government should scrap the legal principle preventing a suspect being tried twice for the same crime.

In 2005 the then Government ruled that the double jeopardy rule would be scrapped, allowing police and the Crown Prosecution Service to consider a second trial in Stephen’s murder investigation.

Investigators at the Met begin in 2006 to re-examine forensic evidence seized following the murder.

In September 2010, two suspects, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were charged with murder thanks to scrapping of the double jeopardy principle – which had prevented Dobson from being tried twice for Stephen’s murder. Dobson and Norris were found guilty of murder in January 2012 following a six-week trial. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Senior officers carried out a comprehensive review of all evidence including forensics. In 2016, officers made an appeal to trace three unknown witnesses and further appealed in April 2018 on the 25th anniversary of Stephen’s murder.

In August 2020 the Met announced the investigation was now moving to ‘inactive’ phase.