Stephen Lawrence's mother says police 'at fault' after Henry Nowak murder

The mother of Stephen Lawrence has said the police “should be at fault for what happened” in the aftermath of the tragic stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon OBE lost her son Stephen - a black British teenager - who was murdered in a racist attack in South East London in 1993.

The Labour peer told the House of Lords: “My condolence goes out to Henry Nowak’s family.

“I think what’s happened with him should never have happened. And the police should be at fault for what happened on that night.

"Now, when my son was murdered, there was nobody standing up and asking for judgment to happen for him. And the mere fact that the leader of the Opposition (Kemi Badenoch) in the other place can use my son’s name in referring to reform - it took 20 years and more for anybody to understand the murder of my son and to have anybody convicted.”

Conservative leader Mrs Badenoch had earlier said “Henry’s murder and the police’s botched response must be a seminal moment for Britain on a par with the murder of Stephen Lawrence”.

Reflecting on the aftermath of her son’s death, Lady Lawrence said: “What we’ve moved on to is a much better equality for all in this country.”

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