The officer who led the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation tells Channel 4 News allegations of a smear campaign against the family are “shaming” and “hugely damaging”.
John Grieve has lived the Stephen Lawrence case for past 13 years. He was appointed after the Macpherson inquiry, writes Channel 4 News Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Israel.
Then, as deputy assistant commissioner at the Met, he ran the investigation for four years. He tried everything to catch the black teenager’s killers. His entire body and soul went into that effort.
I say that because I have known the man for many years and because he is prepared to be held to account for everything that he did. But some things still remain private.
It’s hugely damaging but it’s probably better that it’s explored than that it should not come out. John Grieve
While he is prepared to apologise for bugging at least one meeting with Duwayne Brookes, he will not reveal why he did not tell this crucial witness or his lawyer. But he may have to in the event of any sort of inquiry.
As for the allegation of a smear campaign against the parents of Stephen Lawrence, he does not dismiss it outright. Just because he lived and breathed the inquiry for four years, he says, that does not mean he was party to everything that went on.
“There were ways of ensuring I wouldn’t be told of things if it was thought I didn’t need to know,” he says.
That rather cryptic comment raises the possibility of some truth to a former undercover officer’s claims that there were attempts to discredit the Lawrences. It is shaming if it’s true, he says.
Mr Grieve supports and is prepared to go before a public inquiry if that is what the Lawrences want. This is what he told me:
On authorising secret recording of Duwayne Brooks in 1999:
John Grieve: “I am truly regretful of the distress and dismay this has caused to both Duwayne Brooks and Doreen Lawrence and Neville Lawrence. However the matter we were dealing with was getting the record right and from all the assessment at the time I concluded that the chances of getting the authority to record it were nil”.
JG: “We were just not going to get authority. I’m not going to get into the details. I don’t want to talk about anything else about that but the assessment that we made was that we needed an unassailable record.”
SI: “Did you ever come across allegations of a smear campaign against the Lawrences?”
SI: “But you lived and breathed the Stephen Lawrence inquiry for four or five years.”
JG: “No that’s not how it works. That sort of information wasn’t shared and definitely wasn’t shared with me. You can say I lived and breathed that inquiry for four or five years . I live and breathe that inquiry now.”
I would say if that has happened it’s genuinely really shaming. John Grieve
JG: “I don’t think it slipped past me. If it happened , if there was a smear campaign I don’t think they would have told me.
“It’s hugely damaging but it’s probably better that it’s explored than that it should not come out. It would be much more dangerous in a democracy if you couldn’t get this information out into the public. “
Asked if there should be a public inquiry:
JG:”I think I would not disagree with Neville Lawrence or Doreen Lawrence . If that’s what they want they are the parents of a murdered child, that’s what they should have.
“If it’s true I think it’s awful. I would say if that has happened it’s genuinely really shaming.”
Mr Grieve also caled for a review of the whole programme of undercover policing.