Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the Ellison Review, said:
“The findings of the Ellison review are deeply disturbing and reveal the appalling failure to get to the full truth and justice for Stephen Lawrence and his family over decades.
"The evidence on corruption linked to the Lawrence inquiry in the early 90s is shocking - and even more so that this information has never been revealed before. And the idea that there was a spy operating against the Lawrence supporters and family at the same time is truly chilling.
"The public inquiry and further criminal investigations are vital and the details of how they operate will be important so they can get to the full truth and justice. And everything possible should be done to consider whether there are further leads for prosecution of the remaining suspects for the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence.
"But this also shows the current system for uncovering the truth and maintaining standards when policing goes wrong are simply not strong enough. We need more radical reforms including replacing the IPCC with a new independent police standards commission which can get to the truth much more quickly and prevent injustices lasting for decades - with huge personal cost to families, and considerable damage to the reputation of policing. Police officers who work hard to solve crimes and deliver justice across the country will be appalled at these findings and the fact that they could go undiscovered for so long.
"Families should never have to wait 20 years to get to the truth. The institutional failure to get to the truth and to justice over so many years continues to cast a long shadow over policing and the criminal justice system.
"It is only through the determination of the Lawrence family, that this new shocking information has been uncovered now. For the sake of the Lawrence family and for the sake of confidence in the vital and much valued work the police do, we need forensic pursuit of the truth about what went wrong as well as every sinew strained to get justice.”