24/06/2013
PM Concerned Over Stephen Lawrence 'Smear' Claim
Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is "deeply concerned" after an uncover police officer claimed he was asked to spy on the family of murdered teenager, Stephen Lawrence.
18-year-old Lawrence was attacked by up to six white youths and murdered in a racist attack in April 1993. It has now been revealed that shortly after the teenager's death, Peter Francis said he was ordered to find "dirt" that could be used against members of the family, The Guardian has reported.
He also said he was asked to target the friend who witnessed the murder, as well as campaigners who were angry at the failure to bring the young man's killers to justice.
The claims were revealed as a result of a joint investigation into undercover policing by the Guardian and Channel 4's Dispatches programme, which is to be broadcast on Monday night.
Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Francis said: "I had to get any information on what was happening in the Stephen Lawrence campaign.
"They wanted the campaign to stop. It was felt it was going to turn into an elephant.
"Throughout my deployment there was almost constant pressure on me personally to find out anything I could that would discredit these campaigns."
Addressing the claims, Mr Cameron said he wants the allegations looked into, with Home Secretary Theresa May expected to make a statement about the claims this afternoon.
(JP/CD)
18-year-old Lawrence was attacked by up to six white youths and murdered in a racist attack in April 1993. It has now been revealed that shortly after the teenager's death, Peter Francis said he was ordered to find "dirt" that could be used against members of the family, The Guardian has reported.
He also said he was asked to target the friend who witnessed the murder, as well as campaigners who were angry at the failure to bring the young man's killers to justice.
The claims were revealed as a result of a joint investigation into undercover policing by the Guardian and Channel 4's Dispatches programme, which is to be broadcast on Monday night.
Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Francis said: "I had to get any information on what was happening in the Stephen Lawrence campaign.
"They wanted the campaign to stop. It was felt it was going to turn into an elephant.
"Throughout my deployment there was almost constant pressure on me personally to find out anything I could that would discredit these campaigns."
Addressing the claims, Mr Cameron said he wants the allegations looked into, with Home Secretary Theresa May expected to make a statement about the claims this afternoon.
(JP/CD)
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'Park and Ride' schemes damage countryside, campaigners claim
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