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IOPC Director General Michael Lockwood yesterday gave a statement on Stephen Lawrence Day:

"For the past week, leading up to this first Stephen Lawrence Day, a number of us have been sharing our memories and thoughts about Stephen’s senseless murder.

The stories have ranged from those who were younger than Stephen at the time of his murder to others who had already started their families and careers.

It has been humbling to read their experiences, including a colleague who had joined the Met in the early 1980s and as a black officer, how the evolving story of Stephen’s murder affected his personal and professional relationships. There are also those who witnessed the public inquiry, or who were the same age as Stephen when he was murdered and grew up witnessing his parents’ efforts to get justice.

What is clear to me is that they are all proud to be part of the remarkable legacy brought about by Stephen’s parents and their determined campaign to get justice for their son.

Stephen’s murder brought to light the institutional racism that existed in the police service and went on to have a fundamental impact on policing and the criminal justice system in this country.

It was the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report, written by Sir William Macpherson, which brought about the Independent Police Complaints Commission, the forerunner of who we are today, the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Our mission as the IOPC, and so our part in Stephen’s legacy, is to improve public confidence in policing by ensuring the police are accountable for their actions and that lessons are learnt.

From me, it is an honour to be part of an organisation with this vital role as we remember Stephen, his life and legacy."