The mother of Stephen Lawrence has said the police “should be at fault for what happened” in the aftermath of the tragic stabbing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon OBE lost her son Stephen – a black British teenager – who was murdered in a racist attack in South East London in 1993.
The Labour peer told the House of Lords: “My condolence goes out to Henry Nowak’s family.
“I think what’s happened with him should never have happened. And the police should be at fault for what happened on that night.
"Now, when my son was murdered, there was nobody standing up and asking for judgment to happen for him.
"And the mere fact that the Leader of the Opposition in the other place can use my son’s name in referring to reform – it took 20 years and more for anybody to understand the murder of my son and to have anybody convicted.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said earlier today: “Henry’s murder and the police’s botched response must be a seminal moment for Britain on a par with the murder of Stephen Lawrence."
Reflecting on the aftermath of her son’s death, Lady Lawrence said: “What we’ve moved on to is a much better equality for all in this country.”
On April 22, 1993, Stephen Lawrence was brutally murdered by a group of white teenagers in southeast London.
Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon has said the police 'should be at fault for what happened' after Henry Nowak was stabbed | PA
His death shocked the nation, due to both the unprovoked and racially motivated nature of the crime and the way in which the criminal justice system failed Stephen and his family.
Stephen was waiting for a bus with a friend when he was attacked, stabbed repeatedly and left to die on the pavement.
It took over 18 years of campaigning by Stephen's family and supporters before two of the suspects were finally convicted of his murder in 2012.
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The shocking case has been raised once again this week after harrowing footage emerged depicting Nowak's last moments.
The 18-year-old was stabbed five times with a Sikh ceremonial knife by Vickrum Digwa, 23, in Southampton last December.
Footage emerged of the student handcuffed by police while he lay dying after the man who stabbed him told officers he had racially abused him.
Officers handcuffed Mr Nowak, with Digwa insisting he was, in fact, the victim.
Although Digwa has since been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years, the case has sparked outrage at alleged two-tier policing in Britain, with calls of condemnation over officers' actions.
Henry Nowak was stabbed to death on the walk home from a night out with friends | HANDOUT
Hampshire Police Federation has condemned calls for “vigilante justice” against officers over the case, with some wrongly identified on social media as having been involved, with personal details such as their home addresses published.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France – who apologised for the officers' actions – said the force had been misled on the phone call and faced an "extremely complex" crime scene.