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Four retired detectives who ran the first Stephen Lawrence murder investigation should not face criminal charges for their actions in the case, a review has concluded.<\/p>\n
The BBC has been told the review, by a senior CPS lawyer, upholds a previous decision not to prosecute, which was challenged by Stephen’s parents and friend.<\/p>\n
It found there was insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and therefore none of the four will be charged.<\/p>\n
Stephen was murdered in April 1993 in a racist attack in south London.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The initial investigation failed to bring anyone to justice – although two men were jailed in 2012 for Stephen’s murder.<\/p>\n
The officers had been investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), but last year the CPS chose not to pursue a criminal prosecution after considering a file of evidence.<\/p>\n
A victim\u2019s right to review the charging decision was triggered by Stephen\u2019s parents, Dr Neville Lawrence and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and his friend Duwayne Brooks, who was present during the attack.<\/p>\n
The CPS review decision has been issued, but a public announcement might not come for some hours. The BBC has been told the outcome.<\/p>\n
It means no officers have been held criminally responsible for what is widely seen as one of Scotland Yard\u2019s biggest disasters.<\/p>\n
The four retired officers investigated by the IOPC were:<\/p>\n
In 1999, a public inquiry led by Sir William Macpherson concluded the first Lawrence murder investigation was “marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership by senior officers”.<\/p>\n
The Macpherson report was highly critical of the decision not to make quick arrests.<\/p>\n
Arrests did not take place for two weeks despite police receiving information implicating four of the prime suspects within 24 hours of the stabbing.<\/p>\n
A 1997 investigation by the police watchdog was also critical, but by then only Mr Bullock was still serving in the Met and therefore available for a disciplinary process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n