Theresa May orders probe into Stephen Lawrence ‘corruption’

A new independent investigation headed by a senior lawyer is to examine allegations that police corruption derailed the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Home Secretary Theresa May has ordered the “QC-led review” in response to calls from Stephen’s family for the allegations of malpractice to be assessed independently.

She is also understood to want to avoid any concerns of a cover-up, and believes that can be achieved by appointing a leading barrister to establish the truth.

Yesterday Scotland Yard announced that a review of thousands of documents dating back to the Eighties had failed to uncover any new evidence of corruption or collusion blighting the investigations into Stephen’s death in 1993.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission also said that a separate review of its 2006 inquiry into corruption allegations had failed to find new evidence.

However, Mrs May has decided a further assessment of the evidence is needed to avoid the risk that significant material has been overlooked. She is yet to announce the name of the lawyer or the precise terms of reference of the new probe.

Announcing the decision, a Home Office spokesman said: “The Home Secretary has asked for a QC-led review of the work the Metropolitan police have undertaken into investigating claims of corruption in the original Stephen Lawrence investigation.”

The corruption claims centre on allegations about former Met detective sergeant John Davidson, who played a leading role in the original hunt for Stephen’s racist killers.

A police supergrass alleged that Ds Davidson admitted officers had a corrupt relationship with Clifford Norris, the father of David Norris who with Gary Dobson was jailed for life in January over the killing.

Mayor Boris Johnson and Labour’s shadow home secretary have both backed calls by Stephen’s mother Doreen Lawrence for an independent inquiry.