Police Watchdog To Probe Lawrence Claims

A police watchdog will investigate whether allegations of corruption in the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation were not passed on to a major inquiry.

Scotland Yard says it has called in the Independent Police Complaints Commission after reviewing "a considerable number of files and reports dating back to the 1980s".

There have been claims that a confidential report compiled by the force's anti-corruption command was not disclosed to the panel of the 1998 Macpherson inquiry that examined the force's handling of the case.

A force statement said: "We have retrieved a number of key documents, which greatly assist in understanding what material was available to the Macpherson inquiry and are now in the process of sharing our findings with the Independent Police Complaints Commission so that they can review it in the light of their previous involvement in the case."

Despite investigating the claims for more than a month, Scotland Yard has been unable to confirm if the potentially crucial files were passed to the inquiry, headed by Sir William Macpherson.

The announcement comes after the teenager's mother, Doreen Lawrence, called for the reopening of the major public inquiry into the circumstances of his death.

Documents were said to focus on the conduct and integrity of former Metropolitan Police commander Ray Adams, who was involved in the investigation into the murder.

Mr Adams was previously questioned at the McPherson inquiry about corruption but no evidence of wrongdoing was found.

Home Secretary Theresa May has since offered to meet Mrs Lawrence, who said the claims gave further impetus to her calls for a public inquiry.

David Norris and Gary Dobson were convicted of Stephen's murder in January this year - 19 years after the crime - and sentenced to life at the Old Bailey.