Hidden Stories of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: Personal reflections

Hidden Stories of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: Personal reflections

by RichardStone (Author)

Synopsis

Young people who come into contact with police officers on the streets today have little idea of the significance of the stabbing to death of Stephen Lawrence in a racist attack in 1993. Only their parents or grandparents remember the daily exposures of police incompetence and indirect racism which were given high profile in the media for six months. The repercussions of the case are still ongoing with the long overdue conviction in 2012 of two of the original suspects, and in the same year a number of racist assaults by police. This accessible and engaging book includes analysis of hitherto inaccessible transcripts. These dramatically show how the Inquiry was undermined to the point of failure to produce the desired results. Dr Stone also discusses contemporary issues and the relevance of the Inquiry today. This paperback edition is updated with a new Afterword, including revelations about police surveillance on members of the public who attended the Lawrence Inquiry, Dr Stone's meeting with Mark Ellison QC prior to the release of his report on possible corruption and the role of undercover policing in the Stephen Lawrence case, and proposals for action on implementation of the agenda set by the Lawrence Inquiry. Hard-hitting and full of insightful detail, this book makes essential reading for academics, students, researchers and anyone interested in institutional racism, particularly in the police.

$28.25

Quantity

20+ in stock

More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 240
Publisher: Policy Press
Published: 19 Mar 2013

ISBN 10: 1447308484
ISBN 13: 9781447308485

Media Reviews
By writing this unique book, Richard Stone has recognised that the learning from the Lawrence Inquiry is still a critical factor in the legitimacy and relevance of policing today, which helps to ensure the legacy of Stephen Lawrence withstands the test of time. Superintendent Leroy Logan MBE FCMI BSc, Founder Member and past Chair of both the National and Metropolitan Black Police Associations
Stone's worthy book sheds some light on part of this murky subject and his suggestions for improvements on police recruitment, community engagement and accountability should, in my opinion, be required reading for senior police officers. Probation Journal
The text will be a useful source in relation to studying hate crime, institutional racism, criminal justice systems and policy. Jan Bourne-Day, Manchester Metropolitan University.
A message of unfinished business on all levels. Socialist Review
Going through the Inquiry was a reminder of the pain of losing my son - it was difficult but one I had to sit through. The Inquiry filled in the gaps of what happened the night my son was murdered and showed me the depth of racism and corruption that existed in the Metropolitan Police Service. To be able to read the behind-the-scenes account by Dr Richard Stone is important for the history of the Inquiry and its legacy. Doreen Lawrence OBE
The Lawrence report was groundbreaking. It changed Britain for the better. It took courage and determination by the Inquiry's members to get to the truth. Richard Stone was one of those - and his new book highlights why we have to be ever-vigilant against the unspeakable evils of racism. The Right Honourable Jack Straw MP
It is apt and timely that Dr Stone should reveal detail from the transcript evidence, modulated through his own cool, scientific and humanely liberal interpretation of this important event. His findings and commentary are of special value: this is the testimony of one who saw the police arguably at their worst and can judge what, if anything, has changed in the subsequent 20 years. Dr Bryn Caless, Senior Lecturer in Policing, Canterbury Christ Church University
Author Bio
Dr Richard Stone was a panel member of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry into racism in policing (1997-99) as Adviser to the Judge, Sir William Macpherson. At the time he was Chair of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality. His Independent Review of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry 10 Years On (richardstonesli.wordpress.com) was launched by the Secretaries of State for the departments of Justice, Home Office, and Communities and Local Government in February 2009. For 20 years Dr Stone was senior partner of a general medical practice in London. For 14 years he worked with British Muslims as Chair of the Runnymede Islamophobia Commission, and in 2004 he founded Alif-Aleph UK (British Muslims and British Jews). In 2010 he was awarded the OBE for public and voluntary service. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Cambridge Centre for Muslim-Jewish Relations and an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Criminology at the University of Westminster.