We conclude this special double episode of True Criminals and are joined in the studio today by Neil Basu, former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

Stephen Lawrence's murder in 1993 exposed shocking truths about institutional racism and failure within British policing.

In this powerful conclusion, hosts Martin Brunt (Sky News Crime Correspondent) and Helen Fospero talk to Basu about the profound, yet unfinished, legacy of the Lawrence case on the Metropolitan Police.

Basu, whose 30-year career was bookended by the case, offers an unprecedented insider perspective on:

• The Macpherson Inquiry's seismic finding of "institutionally racist" and why police leadership failed to acknowledge it properly.

• The flawed training and internal backlash to reform efforts in the wake of the inquiry.

• The significant, positive policing reforms that were implemented, including changes to family liaison and emergency life support training.

• The dramatic scientific breakthrough that led to the convictions of two of Stephen's killers 19 years later.

• Why the Met still refuses to accept the term institutional racism today, and the consequences for community trust.

• His own personal experience as an officer of colour navigating the Met's internal culture of "fit in or F off."

Listen to Neil Basu's candid reflections on how the Stephen Lawrence murder transformed the UK's approach to crime, justice, and race relations, and why the battle for true change is far from over.

For a copy of Neil book, Turmoil: 30 Years of Policing, Politics and Prejudice

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Turmoil-Years-Policing-Politics-Prejudice/dp/0711294402

Support the Show

Listen ad free and access our full catalogue, including a True Criminals coffee mug, on Patreon at ⁠www.patreon.com/truecriminals⁠. 

As an independent podcast, we rely on listener support. You can also donate via PayPal

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YQVFJR5766BJE

Follow True Criminals

Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@true.criminals⁠ and subscribe to our YouTube channel at ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@True-Criminals⁠.

Connect with Martin Brunt

Follow Martin on Twitter at ⁠@skymartinbrunt⁠. Discover more about his career and the cases he’s covered by reading his book, No One Got Cracked Over the Head for No Reason: Dispatches from a Crime Reporter, available here: ⁠https://amzn.eu/d/g1WisSY⁠.

Connect with Helen Fospero

Follow Helen on Instagram at ⁠@helenfospero⁠ and check out her podcast, The Convex Conversation, here: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-convex-conversation/id1510209575⁠.

Credits

True Criminals is produced by Audio Bleach Global. 

Visit ⁠www.audiobleachglobal.com/truecriminals⁠ for more information. 

Executive Producer: Lee Mann. 

Producer: Russell Barnes. 

Audio Production: Andrew Chappell. 

Music Composition:

Chap Mannequin. 

Artwork: Bleached.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices