Stephen Lawrence murder investigation ‘inactive’

Image copyright AFP

Detectives investigating the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence have said that all “identified lines of inquiry have been completed” and it has moved to an “inactive phase”.

The 18-year-old was killed in an unprovoked attack in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993.

Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of his murder in 2012.

Met Commissioner Cressida Dick said Mr Lawrence’s family had been told about the latest operational developments.

Duwayne Brooks, who was with Mr Lawrence on the night he was murdered, has also been told about the Met’s decision, the force said.

Ms Dick said she was sad that the Met had been “unable to secure any further convictions for Stephen, his family and friends”.

She added: “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 latest phase of the investigation into Stephen’s murder began in January 2014, with Det Ch Insp Chris Le Pere taking over as the lead officer.

Since then more than 240 new witness statements have been taken.

Image copyright PA Image caption Gary Dobson (left) and David Norris were convicted of murder in 2012

Another development in the case came from a woman’s DNA profile obtained from a bag strap discarded at the scene of the murder.

Despite a significant appeal for information and other investigations, that woman has not been identified.

Officers also sought to identify a man who had been near the murder scene wearing a jacket with a distinctive V-shaped emblem.

Image copyright Met Police Image caption Police appealed for a man in a distinctive jacket, seen in an off-licence near to the murder scene, to come forward

A third line of inquiry had been to track down a man who had called the BBC’s Crimewatch in 2013 to say he had information about the attack.

“The appeal generated more than 40 lines of enquiry for the investigation team to work through,” the Met said.

“Despite exhaustive efforts, officers were unable to trace the individuals.”

Initial attempts to catch Mr Lawrence’s killers were found to have been hampered by incompetence and institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police.

No arrests were made for two weeks after his death, despite five suspects being named by anonymous informants.

Image copyright Met Police Image caption A bag strap was left on the road near to where Stephen Lawrence was attacked

Dobson and Norris were among a group of up to six men accused of attacking Mr Lawrence and Mr Brooks. Critics of the case say others evaded justice.

The Macpherson Report into the investigation into Mr Lawrence’s death found that there had been “institutional racism” in the police.