Doreen Lawrence alleges Home Office was involved in Met spying on family

"Doreen Lawrence also questioned why a politician who had held the post of home secretary had keenly sought her out and was at pains to reassure her that the government department had nothing to do with the surveillance. She said this had raised her suspicion that it was an attempt by the Home Office to get their defence in early."

"In a statement to the inquiry that was published on Monday, she said that the then commissioner of the Metropolitan police, Paul Condon, who is now a peer, and Scotland Yard's senior ranks were behind the surveillance. She added that during the course of her grief she was, quite undeservedly and unlawfully spied upon by those meant to serve and protect her."

The Home Office was directly implicated in unlawful surveillance of a family's campaign for justice. A former home secretary keenly sought out the family and reassured them that the government department had no involvement, prompting suspicion of a pre-emptive defence. Evidence indicates at least a decade of unjustified spying while the family campaigned for proper investigation of a racist murder. Senior Metropolitan Police figures, including the then commissioner, are identified as behind the surveillance. Undercover officers working for a covert unit gathered personal information and reported on family relationships during prolonged grief, and the spying was reportedly sanctioned and rewarded by senior officials.

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