The police watchdog today announced a full independent inquiry into allegations that Scotland Yard sent an undercover officer to spy on the family of Stephen Lawrence.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it had launched an investigation into the actions of former counter terrorism chief Commander Richard Walton and two former Met officers.
Mr Walton was moved from his post after a report by barrister Mark Ellison found he held an “inappropriate” meeting with an undercover officer who infiltrated the Lawrence family camp.
The undercover officer passed on details of groups that were seeking to influence the Lawrence family campaign during the meeting with Mr Walton, who at the time was helping to draft the Met’s submissions to the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.
In a statement, the IPCC said: “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 said it was also investigating allegations of discreditable conduct on the part of two former Met officers, then Detective Inspector Robert Lambert and Commander Colin Black, who were identified in the review as having played a part in arranging the meeting with the undercover officer.
