Stephen Lawrence verdict: A huge step that’s made Britain a better place, says David Blunkett

January 4th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
David Blunkett

Last updated at 12:51 AM on 4th January 2012

Eight years after Stephen Lawrence’s murder, I met his parents Doreen and Neville for the first time. I was Education Secretary and, although they were no longer together, they were united in their campaign for justice for their son.

They were united, too, by the extraordinary amount of work they put into the campaign to educate people about the corrosive impact of racism and hatred on communities across Britain – Doreen as a high-profile crusader, and Neville in visiting schools and talking to the young.

Doreen’s zeal, energy and drive were matched by the Mail’s own admirable campaign in seeking justice for Stephen, not least in that 1997 front page accusing the five suspects of being murderers.

David Blunkett, former cabinet minister

Doreen Lawrence

Zeal: David Blunkett met Doreen Lawrence (right) during his time as Education Secretary, and was struck by her and husband Neville’s powerful determination in their campaign for justice for son Stephen

And all this was accompanied by political action as well.

In the summer of the year of the Mail’s front page, Home Secretary Jack Straw announced a public inquiry, led by Sir William Macpherson, into Stephen’s death, the actions of the police and Crown Prosecution Service and the alleged intimidation of witnesses.

The Macpherson Report which followed in 1999 was not just about the inadequacy and failure of the police investigation. It was also about the culture and attitude of the police — and it suggested there was a tacit acceptance of racist violence in London in the Nineties.

I agreed with the general thrust of the report, although I felt it wrong to describe the whole of the police service as institutionally racist. I believed that would allow individual officers off the hook.

Yet the report fundamentally altered our approach to criminal justice, and Jack Straw did an excellent job in driving through many of the much-needed changes it recommended.

Institutionally racist: The Macpherson Report, published in 1999, and seen held here by Doreen and Neville Lawrence, concentrated on the culture and attitude of the police

When I took over from Jack as Home Secretary, I felt another substantial change to our criminal justice system was needed — a change to the law on double jeopardy which stopped defendants being tried twice for the same crime. In modern times, double jeopardy is clearly nonsense.

Improvements in forensic analysis and the use of scientific evidence mean we are now far better able to identify criminals who were previously able to walk away from the scene of the crime.

Justice: The first conviction under the 2003 Criminal Justice Act came in 2006 when William Dunlop, who had been acquitted of murdering his former girlfriend, was found guilty

The Criminal Justice Act 2003, brought in when I was Home Secretary, changed the law to allow a re-trial if there was new and compelling evidence for serious crimes.

The first conviction under the Act came in 2006 when William Dunlop, who had been acquitted of murdering his former girlfriend, Julie Hogg, in 1989, was found guilty. Cleveland Police reopened the case after the law changed and Dunlop pleaded guilty to murder.

Crucially, the Act also enabled the re-trial of Gary Dobson.

Fifteen years ago, he was tried at the Old Bailey after Doreen and Neville Lawrence brought a private murder prosecution against Dobson, and his friends Luke Knight and Neil Acourt. All three were acquitted a year later (David Norris had never been charged over the stabbing).

Seeing these men who walked away — men who have for years laughed in the face of justice — finally being brought to book will hopefully bring some peace of mind to the Lawrence family and Stephen’s friends.

But yesterday’s verdict also sends a powerful message: that it is possible in a democracy to campaign effectively, to mobilise the forces of good and to get major national newspapers on side in order to change society for the better.

In makes clear it is possible to challenge and change even those institutions we value most — not least the forces of law and order — as well as the Government’s ability to bring about redress for those who have run out of options.

Powerful message: Yesterday's guilty verdict may finally bring some comfort to Stephen Lawrence's family and friends

Powerful message: Yesterday’s guilty verdict may finally bring some comfort to Stephen Lawrence’s family and friends

The story of Stephen Lawrence is, of course, that of a fine young man whose life was cut short in his prime. It is about the pain of a family. But it is also about the kind of world we wish to live in.

Only when young men such as Stephen can go about their business free from racist taunts and thuggery will we have succeeded in creating a society that is safe for each and every one of us.

We are a long way from achieving that goal, but the campaign run by the Lawrences and supported by the Mail has, in its own way, taken a massive step in freeing others from fear and making Britain a better place.