Lawrence family calls for naming of officers who spied on them
The mother of murdered teenager, Stephen Lawrence has called for the identification of police officers who spied on the family.
Doreen Lawrence requested the identity of the unknown officer be publicized after revelations of police officers infiltrating the family’s political campaign came to light. The call by Lady Lawrence challenges police protocol, which does not allow the naming of officers who have worked undercover.
This comes as home secretary, Theresa May is to announce the launch of an inquiry into the Scotland Yard following “profoundly shocking and disturbing” revelations which proved their spy unit had spied on the Lawrence family as well as their supporters while investigating the murder of Stephen.
In an interview with the Guardian, Lawrence said: “For far too long, the police have had a mantra of ‘we can do whatever we like’. That’s what I found after Stephen’s murder.”
On the officers accused of spying on the family, she said: “They were doing the deception. Why should they be allowed to be anonymous while people like me had their faces all over the newspapers? These people were not innocent. They knew what they were doing.”
May’s inquiry is to look at accusations that police officers have been spying on political campaigners for three decades, examining reasons behind the cover operations as well as the impact it had on the individuals.
Over 100 police officers are thought to have infiltrated at least 460 political groups since 1968 with only a few being exposed after pressure from campaigners and the media.
“I can’t see how the senior officers did not know what the junior officers were doing. The junior officers must have got their orders from somewhere,” said May.
The Lawrence family only knew of the infiltration into their campaign after a police whistleblower, Peter Francis revealed the information.
She said: “They need to rebuild their reputation. The only way is come out and says what you have done and speaking the truth. What I am hoping is that they will have learnt the lesson that the truth will come out eventually.”
Rwandans say UK deportation 'another brutal manifestation of neo-colonialism'
UK's Rwanda deportation plan morally disgraceful
London protests: Stop arming Israel
Yemeni armed forces strike British oil tanker in Red Sea
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
VIDEO | American, Israeli rabbis call for ceasefire during protest near Gaza
Iran calls for enhanced defense cooperation with Russia
US campus crackdown: 500 pro-Palestinian protesters arrested
VIDEO | Yemenis rally in Sana'a in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza
VIDEO | Jordanians march after Friday prayers in support of Palestinians
Far-right Israeli minister Ben-Gvir injured
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
