Mayor of London statement on the 30th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence's murder

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “As we mark the 30th anniversary of Stephen Lawrence’s horrific murder, we remember and celebrate his life, legacy and the extraordinary work taking place in his name to ensure greater equality and inclusion for everyone.

“I continue to be inspired every day by Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the Lawrence family and so many others who have campaigned for decades for justice and a fairer society following Stephen’s murder. It was through their courage, strength and determination that the landmark Macpherson Report was published – a watershed moment which helped to shape the future of policing and tackle racism, discrimination and prejudice in our society.

“Baroness Casey’s recent review into the culture of the Met Police has laid bare just how much work there is still to do. Three decades on, we’re not where we hoped to be. While progress may have been made, the Met remains institutionally racist. This is a reality we simply can’t ignore or equivocate on. Rather, we must confront this truth and recommit to eradicating racism from the Met and from every other sector and sphere of our society.

“We have a duty and responsibility to Stephen, his family and Londoners to drive the change that is needed and ensure that young people from all backgrounds are given the opportunities they deserve for a brighter future, as we work to build a safer, fairer London for everyone.”