Lessons from the failure of a criminal investigation: The killing of Stephen Lawrence

Abstract

The article is an account of the criminal investigation into the murder of a black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, who was stabbed to death near a bus stop in London in 1993.
Based on the inquiry report by William MacPherson, the key mistakes and omissions are presented.
Some relate to the inadequate organization of operations at the scene of the criminal offence, while others are connected to unsatisfactory cooperation with citizens, especially with the victim’s parents.
Special emphasis is placed on the phenomenon of institutional racism and its impact on the investigative failure.
Recommendations by Pál Déri are cited as useful means to prevent similar problems in crime detection.