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TRIBUTE: Gone but not forgotten. The legacy of Stephen Lawrence will remain

IT HAS been almost two decades since bright teenager Stephen Lawrence was murdered by racist thugs. Three court cases later and - at last - his parents, Doreen and Neville, have found some measure of justice with the jailing of vicious racist thugs Gary Dobson and David Norris.

Detectives say a gang of at least five young men were involved in the unprovoked attack on Stephen at an Eltham, south London, bus stop. The remainder must be put behind bars too. A bungled police investigation allowed those guilty of this evil crime to roam free for almost 19 years.

An official inquiry into the murder headed by retired High Court judge Sir William Macpherson found that the Met was 'institutionally racist'. The report criticised five of the original investigating officers for refusing to accept that it was a racist attack, but no officer was ever punished for this rank incompetence.

Top cops say, post Macpherson, such a cock up would not happen again. Forensic breakthroughs, especially as a result of the 2000 Damilola Taylor case, helped nail Dobson and Norris. But Stephen's parents say firmly that the police should not use his name to say that we can move on. Racism and racist attacks continue to happen and must be mercilessly combated.

Other victims, like Rolan Adams, who was murdered by racists before Stephen, must not be forgotten. Nor the valour of campaigners who, with Doreen and Neville Lawrence, kept the case alive.

An online Voice poll shows that a huge number of black people do not believe that race relations have improved since Stephen's murder. There is still much to be done to improve policing. The unacceptable deaths of black people in custody must be tackled, and the disproportionate number of young black men stopped and searched.

The Government must champion the cause of anti-racism and racial equality in order to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the Stephen Lawrence legacy.