Stephen Lawrence: Still an open case

"They [the police] treated the affair as gang war, and from that moment on their attitude can only be described as white masters during slavery."- Doreen Lawrence: Stephen Lawrence's mother.
Some of you may be familiar with the heartbreaking murder case of Stephen Lawrence eighteen years ago. Stabbed to death in Eltham South London on his way home, eighteen year old student Stephen, was subject to a racial attack on the night of April 22nd 1993, by a gang of white youths. 
Though there were five suspects early on in the case, these men escaped conviction and were released on bail with a further arrest , and yet another bail , due to lack of evidence. 
Despite the arrests ''the corruption and the conscious and unconscious racism that afflicted the police force investigating Stephen Lawrence's murder" is where there appeared pressing evident problems between the police and Stephens parents, as well as reactions from the public and authoritative figures like  Tony Blair and David Blunkett.
There appeared a dissatisfaction with the police investigation by the Stephens, who felt ridiculed and a nuisance to the authorities. The issue of a young black boy being stabbed seemed low priority and after a public inquiry began, police were still perceived as having a "cavalier attitude to evidence from Stephen Lawrence's friend Duwayne Brooks." He witnessed the build up to his friends murder, but managed to run to safety and recalled the murderers as shouting "What what nigger" prior to the attack.  The dismissal of his eye witness evidence, angered the Lawrence family as another eyewitness was asked to recall what they saw five whole years after the murder, including an artists impression of the men. For future use, the Lawrence case did have an effect on police priority when concerned with racial attacks.  It was stated:

"The Macpherson report also recommends extending the 1976 Race Relations Act to cover the police, armed forces and immigration service. This would allow individuals and the Commission for Racial Equality to bring legal action against the police. The report also suggests making the use racist language in society a criminal offence."

After 18 years,two men will be prosecuted over Stephen’s murder due to new sufficient evidence, which seemed to come eighteen years too late.  Mrs Lawrence said "‘When the judgment was read out, my heart missed a beat. It was as though I had dived into the sea and had been forced to hold my breath until my lungs were bursting, and then – when the decision came – I could come up for air. Now I look forward to seeing justice at last. It has been a very long road."

Home Secretary Jack Straw
"I want this report to serve as a watershed in our attitudes to racism. I want it to act as a catalyst for permanent and irrevocable change, not just across our public services but across the whole of our society."