Police apologise to Lawrences

Britain's top policeman, Sir Paul Condon, could be called to give evidence at the public inquiry into the death of the black …

Britain's top policeman, Sir Paul Condon, could be called to give evidence at the public inquiry into the death of the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, after one of his senior officers yesterday made an apology for the way the case was handled.

Mr Ian Johnston, the assistant Metropolitan Police Commissioner for south-east London, apologised on behalf of Sir Paul to Stephen's parents, Mr Neville Lawrence and Ms Doreen Lawrence, admitting the force "could not justify" errors in the investigation. The teenager was murdered as he waited at a bus stop in April 1993. Three of the men accused of his murder were acquitted, and a further two were never brought to trial.

This morning, Mr Johnston waited for Mr Lawrence at the public inquiry and addressed him personally.

He said: "Mr Lawrence, I wanted to say to you that I am truly sorry that we have let you down. It has been a tragedy for you, you have lost a son and not seen his killers brought to justice.

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"It has been a tragedy for the Metropolitan Police who have lost the confidence of a significant section of the community for the way we have handled the case.

"I can understand and explain some of what went wrong. I cannot and do not seek to justify it.

"I am very very sorry and very very sad that we have let you down. Looking back now I can see we could have and should have done better. I deeply regret that we have not put his killers away.

"On behalf of myself and the commissioner, who specifically asked me to associate himself with these words, and the whole of the Metropolitan Police, I offer my sincere and deep apologies to you."

But the apology has come three years too late, said Mr Lawrence, who called for Sir Paul, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, to be called to the inquiry to answer questions and apologise in person.

In a statement, Mr and Mrs Lawrence said: "It has taken five years of trauma, heartache and suffering for our family to reach this stage of our struggle. The commissioner now accepts that the first investigation was flawed and incompetent."