Campaigning QC Michael Mansfield has shocked viewers by using the words n***** and c*** during an interview about the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Mr Mansfield, who was Doreen and Neville Lawrence’s barrister, used the offensive words on live TV when he said the Met is still institutionally racist.
Yesterday the head of Scotland Yard clashed with the Archbisop of York over the extent to which the murder of Stephen Lawrence changed British policing.
Sky News breakfast presenter Sarah Jane-Mee asked whether Mr Mansfield thought Archbishop John Sentamu was right to say the Met is still racist.
Michael Mansfield QC has shocked viewers by using the words n***** and c*** during an interview about the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Sky News host Sarah Jane-Mee apologised for Mr Mansfield’s workd but he insisted: ‘Those are terms that were used and still are used’
He said: ‘Yes. That’s why I’m saying it hasn’t been eradicated, it’s just that the threshold has gone up and police officers and public have been far more aware of these risks.
The life and legacy of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence will be celebrated during a memorial service today marking the 25th anniversary of his death
‘Sometimes it’s not evident by somebody actually calling someone a c**n or a n***** or whatever phrase there is. It’s not as obvious as that’.
Miss Mee was forced to apologise for his language.
He stood firm and added: ‘Those are terms that were used and still are used. And what we hope is that there will be a public reaction to this and institutions will recognise that it isn’t always phrased in that way’.
But viewers weren’t impressed about the way he made his point.
One tweeted: ‘Michael Mansfield just dropped the N word and another racist word live on @SkyNews !!!’
Another wrote: ‘Michael Mansfield on @SkyNews #sunrise talking about Police & institutional racism uses two terms that are highly offensive.’
Commissioner Cressida Dick said on the 25th anniversary of the racist murder yesterday that the 18-year-old’s death had personally shaped her approach to policing and had been a catalyst for change throughout UK forces.
But just hours after making her comments, Archbishop John Sentamu, who was Bishop of Stepney at the time of the killing, said many of the recommendations for change following the killing which shocked a nation needed to be revisited.
Archbishop John Sentamu, who was Bishop of Stepney, said many of the recommendations for change following the Stephen Lawrence killing needed to be revisited
He said the Macpherson Report which concluded the police made mistakes in the murder probe and were guilty of ‘institutional racism’ needed to be looked at again.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme: ‘I think the 72 recommendations, which were accepted by the then Home Secretary, and there was an action plan…. I’m afraid it needs to be revisited by every police service so that they learn the lessons that were very clear.’
Commissioner Cressida Dick said on the 25th anniversary of the racist murder yesterday that the 18-year-old’s death had personally shaped her approach to policing
When asked what needed to be done to improve attitudes which may be considered racist, he added: ‘I think it is a question of greater training, people need to be more vigilant and they need to realise that if you stereotype people, you end up disadvantaging them.’
Earlier, the Met Commissioner insisted the force had changed but she pledged to listen and continue to build on Stephen’s legacy.
She praised his parents Neville and Doreen’s fight for justice as ‘inspirational’ after their son was stabbed to death just because he was black.
The aspiring architect was set upon by a white gang at a bus stop and left to die in Eltham, south London on April 22, 1993.
Two of the group have been convicted of murder, but the rest have evaded justice.
David Norris and Gary Dobson are both serving life sentences while three other men accused of the killing, Jamie Acourt, 41, his brother Neil Acourt, 42, who uses his mother’s maiden name Stuart, and Luke Knight, 41, remain at large.
Yesterday it emerged that Jamie Acourt is living the high life in Marbella while on the run from police who are hunting him over links to a drug dealing gang.