Stephen Lawrence memorial vandalised for fourth time

Stephen Lawrence's memorial plaque on the spot where he was
killed in Eltham, south London, in 1993. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

Police release CCTV footage of vandal breaking glass over plaque honouring murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence

A plaque honouring the murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence has been targeted by vandals for a fourth time, police said. A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed that officers were alerted shortly after 8am by members of the public. No arrests have been made.

In previous years vandals have chipped the memorial and poured paint and flammable liquids on the pavement tribute at the spot where the black 18-year-old was killed in Eltham, south London in April 1993. At the time of his death Stephen was studying English, design and technology, craft and physics and was hoping to become an architect.

There was no immediate reaction to the vandalism from either of Stephen's parents, who were at the Old Bailey last week for the pre-trial hearing of two men accused of his murder.

Later, police confirmed that the vandal was caught on CCTV smashing a bottle over the memorial plaque while walking alongside a woman with a pushchair. Police released the footage in an effort to trace the man and woman. Images released by Scotland Yard showed a man in white shorts, white trainers and a blue sleeveless shirt accompanied by a blonde woman pushing a stroller with a child in it.

Detective Sergeant James Bray said: "Anyone with information concerning the incident or who recognises this man and woman are asked to come forward and assist us with their inquiries."

Gary Dobson, 36, and David Norris, 35, deny murdering Stephen in a racist attack in April 1993. Dobson and Norris, both from south London, go on trial on 14 November. Witnesses are asked to call Plumstead CID on 020 8284 9554 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Six years after Stephen Lawrence's murder, an inquiry headed by Sir William Macpherson examined the original police investigation and concluded that the force was "institutionally racist". The Macpherson report has been called "one of the most important moments in the modern history of criminal justice in Britain".

Guardian

Met police request a ban

This afternoon the Metropolitan Police is formally requesting a ban on the EDL march in Tower Hamlets on 3 September. It seems an almost certainty that the Home Secretary will agree to the request.

This decision is a victory for common sense. The EDL clearly intended to use the proposed march to bring violence and disorder to the streets of Tower Hamlets. Their plan has been foiled.

While the EDL might still decide to hold a static protest they will not now be able to march through residential areas and, most importantly, march past the East London mosque. A static protest will be far easier to police and it will probably also discourage a lot of EDL supporters from travelling.

While we await the formal decision from the Home Secretary I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the 25,300 people who signed our petition, the hundreds of people who donated to the campaign fund and the dozens of people who came out campaigning with us in Tower Hamlets.

Hope not hate

London can't afford to let the EDL march

As violence and disorder escalated a fortnight ago, councils swiftly deployed youth workers, clean-up teams and support for the families and businesses affected (Report, 23 August). Rebuilding homes and livelihoods, not to mention a sense of public safety, will be a much longer job and councils will be paying for this for some time to come. The huge additional cost to the Metropolitan police of putting 16,000 officers on London streets for a week will have an even greater impact, severely limiting the force's ability to deploy additional resources to respond to the day-to-day crime and anti-social behaviour that will arise during the rest of the year.

That is why we – representing communities across London – are calling on the acting commissioner of the Met to recognise that the planned march of the English Defence League in Tower Hamlets on 3 September is a drain on resources that London cannot now afford. While we have no doubt that the Met could contain this demonstration, the cost of policing it (up to £500,000 for previous EDL marches) would simply be too great. That's even before the cost of policing the heightened community tension that the EDL aims to leave in its wake.

As we continue the clean-up, let's make sure that the long-term impact on London isn't unnecessarily compounded.The Met should request that the EDL march in Tower Hamlets on 3 September be banned and the home secretary should agree.

Rushanara Ali MP Lab, Bethnal Green and Bow
Jim Fitzpatrick MP Lab, Poplar and Limehouse
John Biggs AM Lab, City and East London
Cllr Joshua Peck Labour group leader, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Jules Pipe Mayor of Hackney
Sir Robin Wales Mayor of Newham
Cllr Nasim Ali Leader, London Borough of Camden
Cllr Chris Roberts Leader, London Borough of Greenwich
Cllr Bill Stephenson Leader, London Borough of Harrow
Cllr Jagdish Sharma Leader, London Borough of Hounslow
Sir Steve Bullock Mayor of Lewisham
Cllr Stephen Alambritis Leader, London Borough of Merton
Cllr Peter John Leader, London Borough of Southwark
Cllr Catherine West Leader, London Borough of Islington
Cllr Doug Taylor Leader, London Borough of Enfield
Cllr Julian Bell Leader, London Borough of Ealing
Cllr Jackie Meldrum Deputy leader, London Borough of Lambeth

Guardian

'EDL not far-right,' says police extremism chief

The new head of police domestic extremist units was condemned today after denying that the English Defence League was a right-wing extremist group.

Detective Chief Superintendent Adrian Tudway, who took over the role of national co-ordinator for domestic extremism last week, claimed police had to walk a "tightrope" when targeting small groups which they believe are bent on violence.

Senior officers have gone on the offensive following the student protests and the resulting occupation of 30 Millbank two weeks ago, saying that more resources are being invested in identifying potential "flashpoints of disorder."

Mr Tudway said his officers were focusing on the "fringe" where protest "spills over" into violence and disorder. His comments came on the eve of tomorrow's wave of protests against rising university fees.

The National Public Order Intelligence Unit, National Domestic Extremism team and National Extremism Tactical Co-ordination Unit employ about 100 people with a budget of £8.1 million. The police units, which are set to be integrated into the Met Police under a rebranding exercise, have come under fire for using intrusive surveillance tactics to identify hundreds of people who have attended protests and then sharing the information with other forces.

However Mr Tudway insisted that intelligence officials do not examine the work of trade or student unions and went on to say that the EDL was not an extreme right-wing group.

"The present particular challenge to us, constitutionally, is they are not extreme right-wing organisations," he said. "On the one hand, they are seen by many as the single biggest threat to community cohesion in the UK, but they are most certainly not extreme right-wing organisations."

Communist Party of Britain general secretary Rob Griffiths said that "nobody should be fooled" by the claim that the police to not monitor trade unions and student groups.

"It is well known from recent history that the intelligence services disrupt trade unions and the peace movement by targeting socialist and communist activists within them and making this the excuse for spreading the net across the whole organisation," he said. "If he does not know the fascist affiliations of leading and founder members of the English Defence League then we should club together and buy him a subscription to Searchlight magazine, where he would find these links set out in fine detail."

Morning Star

Police crackdown on hate crime across London

Raids across London have been carried out by the Metropolitan Police as part of an operation to crackdown on hate crime

A number of officers simultaneously raided properties across the city at about 0000 BST on Tuesday. Seventy-seven people have been arrested for a range of offences including serious assault and harassment. More arrests are expected to be made later. The action comes a day after the International Day Against Homophobia.

The raids are aimed at bringing hate crime offenders to justice. Police are particularly focusing their attentions on homophobic and domestic violence within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. Between March 2009 and April 2010 there were 51,839 domestic violence offences, 9,914 racial offences and 1,336 homophobic offences committed in London. To crack down on such offences the Met has about 230 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Liaison officers supporting police work.

Det Supt Darren Williams said: "Today's operations represent part of the proactive approach the MPS take to bring those responsible to justice. We know that all hate crime is under reported and this remains a challenge for us. We will continue to work hard to gain the trust and confidence of all communities so that victims feel that they can come forward and tell police. My message to all victims is that if you feel you can't tell the police - tell someone."

BBC

Asian men and BNP candidate Bob Bailey clash in Barking

A fight broke out between a British National Party parliamentary candidate and some Asian men as party members were out campaigning in east London.

Some men earlier swore at leader Nick Griffin and threw fruit at him and he was taken away from the scene.

The candidate for Romford, Bob Bailey, was filmed shouting out to men in Ripple Road when one of them swore and spat at him and Mr Bailey punched him. Police were called after 1500 BST to the fight between the two groups.

At the time Metropolitan Police said they were called to the incident but no-one had been arrested at the scene. Later however, police said an 18-year-old man attended Barking police station and alleged common assault against another man. The Barking Community Safety Unit is to look into the matter.

When asked about the fight Mr Griffin told BBC London the fight was the result of a "campaign of hatred and dehumanisation against any group of people, in this case us".

He said: "I think people have to realise that the people have spoken, this is a democratic vote and everyone has to go along with that, whether its us, our opponents or people on the streets, and if there are a few crazies or thugs on the streets I'm sure the police will deal with them quite quickly. The more people in the media talk this up as an issue, the more silly kids on the streets will be inclined to take the law into their hands."

Candidates for Romford are: Independent: Philip Hyde; Conservative: Andrew Rosindell; Independent: David Sturman; English Democrats: Peter Thorogood; Labour: Rachel Voller; British National Party: Robert Bailey; UK Independence Party: Gerard Batten; Liberal Democrat: Helen Duffett; Green: Gary Haines.

BBC

Lunatics or BNP could win control of police, says chief

The row between Boris Johnson and the police reignited today after one of Britain's most senior officers said it was "entirely unacceptable" to claim the Met was under Tory control.

Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, attacked City Hall Conservatives for suggesting they now had their "hands on the tiller" of the London force. Deputy mayor Kit Malthouse prompted a backlash last week when he came up with the phrase and suggested policing should be put under political control just as health and education were.

Sir Hugh said chief constables around the country were united in opposing the politicisation of their forces, declaring maintaining law and order was "far too important to be used as a political football". He also widened his attack to slam Tory plans for elected police commissioners, warning that David Cameron's proposals could result in "lunatics" or the BNP in charge of policing.

Mr Malthouse infuriated the Met with his comments last week and his suggestion that City Hall now controlled the force was flatly denied by Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson. When asked on BBC1's Andrew Marr programme about Mr Malthouse's remarks, Sir Hugh replied: "I find it entirely unacceptable from a professional police officer's point of view, and I know I can speak with absolute clarity for all the 44 chiefs that lead policing in this country."

The Mayor's office refused to comment on the criticism. Sir Hugh, who was a contender for the top Met job before Sir Paul was appointed, said it was unfair of the Conservatives to suggest that officers were not currently accountable enough. The former chief constable for Northern Ireland today stepped up his attacks, calling on the Conservative Party to explain exactly how it plans to alter the leadership of Britain's police forces should it win the next election.

He told the Independent: "No one has articulated to me or anyone else what the elected commissioner plan actually looks like. I know that Labour have stepped back from it, but the Conservatives are still committed to it. They need to talk to us about what exactly they are talking about doing. Do they think that the public are so interested in policing that they would turn out and vote? And for whom? A politician? Or do they mind if they get a lunatic or a retired copper? All of these questions need to be answered."

Asked whether he feared a BNP or far-Right candidate could seize upon this, Sir Hugh replied: "Yes, that is a risk. If you have a system whereby anyone can stand to be elected as the local police commissioner, you could have any Tom, Dick or Harriet standing. If they can muster enough support against a backdrop of public apathy, then of course it is a risk."

Many supporters of the proposal have pointed out that it is similar to apparently successful models in the United States, but Sir Hugh rejected the suggestion that it could work here. He added: "Perhaps people should go to America before saying things like that. I know a lot of sheriffs and they seem to spend a lot of their time canvassing and preparing for elections. Is that really what the public wants for British policing?"

London Evening Standard

Homophobia: the forgotten hate crime

New report says that the abuse and violence suffered by lesbians and gay men is on the rise

Michael Causer's only crime was to be openly gay. For this the trainee hairdresser was dragged from his bed last July and viciously beaten. His piercings were forcibly removed with a knife, according to some witnesses. He died nine days later in hospital from brain injuries.

Tomorrow James O'Connor, 19, will be sentenced after admitting the murder of the 18-year-old in Liverpool, in a case which, campaigners say, illustrates a rising and little-reported tide of homophobia in Britain.

New research to be published next week reveals widespread anecdotal evidence that gay and lesbian people experience severe daily harassment and abuse which they do not report to the police. The survey shows that, although society's attitude towards gay and lesbian people appears to be more tolerant, bubbling beneath the surface, and often unreported, is a stream of abuse and harassment.

Earlier this month, Gerald Edwards, 59, was stabbed to death in the home in Bromley, Kent, that he shared with his partner, Chris Bevan, who was seriously injured in what police believe was a homophobic attack.

Next week's report, published by the charity Galop, the Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence and Policing Group and the Metropolitan Police, found that homophobic hate crime is seriously under-reported, partly because of out-of-date contact numbers and addresses, but also because of fears of reprisals and a belief that the police don't take them seriously.

But those incidents that are reported to lesbian and gay groups can take place in daylight, often feature casual violence and verbal abuse, and frequently take the form of persistent bullying from neighbours. Researchers found that nearly half of all victims reporting to lesbian and gay organisations knew their aggressor.

Over a quarter of all incidents involved physical violence. Figures from the Met show that in the last year reported homophobic hate crime in London has risen by more than 5 per cent, from 1,008 to 1,062 incidents. London's gay and lesbian population is thought to stand at around 750,000.

National figures on homophobic incidents are not collected by the Home Office, however. A survey by Stonewall, the gay rights charity, published last year found that one in five gay people had been the victim of a hate crime in the last three years.

Stonewall also published a report earlier this month which revealed a "deeply alarming" amount of homophobia in schools. The report is the largest survey of both primary and secondary schoolteachers on the issue of homophobic bullying.

Called The Teachers' Report, it showed that around 150,000 pupils are affected by anti-gay bullying. Not only are children who are thought to be gay victims of name-calling and abuse, but pupils are picked out because they are boys who work hard or girls who play sport or because they have gay parents.

Nine in 10 secondary school teachers and two in five primary school teachers said pupils experience homophobic bullying, even if they are not gay.

Deborah Gold, chief executive of Galop, said: "Homophobic and transphobic crime is certainly not going down. Whether it's going up or whether there's increased reporting is hard to say. But it is as significant a problem as it always has been.

"On the face of it there's increased acceptance [of gay people], but when you look at homophobic bullying in schools or the abuse people face when they are leaving their homes from neighbours or kids shouting at them, it's a significant problem."

IoS