Independent Police Complaints Commission
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IPCC investigating Metropolitan Police Service Commander and two others following Mark Ellison QC review
The Independent Police Complaints
Commission (IPCC) has started an independent investigation into allegations regarding
the conduct of a serving and two former Metropolitan Police Service
(MPS) officers arising from the Stephen Lawrence Independent Review undertaken
by Mark Ellison QC.
The IPCC will investigate
allegations of discreditable conduct and breaches of honesty and
integrity on the part of Commander Richard Walton. The allegations are that
during the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry in 1998, Commander Richard Walton (then an
acting Detective Inspector) met with an undercover officer and obtained
information pertaining to the Lawrence family and their supporters, potentially
undermining the Inquiry and public confidence. It is also alleged that
Commander Walton provided inconsistent accounts to Mr Ellison's review team
regarding his actions.
The IPCC will also investigate
allegations of discreditable conduct on the part of two former MPS
officers, then Detective Inspector Robert Lambert and Commander Colin Black,
who were both identified in the review as having played a part in facilitating
the meeting with the undercover officer.
IPCC Deputy Chair, Sarah Green
said:
"Mark Ellison's
review highlighted a number of extremely serious matters which strike at the
heart of public confidence in the police. Following the review, I asked the MPS
to consider whether the conduct of any officers or former officers should be
recorded and referred to the IPCC. Having now received referrals in relation to
all three of the above officers, and in view of the seriousness of the matter
and the significant public interest, I have determined the IPCC
should conduct an independent investigation. I have notified Mr Lawrence and Baroness Lawrence of this
decision."