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Jack Straw: expected to order new inquiry into the death of Stephen Lawrence
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Straw Acts Against Racism
The Home Secretary, Jack Straw, is signalling a new crackdown on racist
attacks, with offenders facing the prospect of an extra two years in jail.
Mr Straw, who is expected to announce next week that an inquiry is to be held
into the killing of a black teenager, Stephen Lawrence, is said to be determined to underline
the Government's refusal to tolerate racist crimes.
The new tougher penalties are being drawn up as part of the Government's Crime
and Disorder Bill, to be published in the autumn, which will create a new
offence of racial harassment and racially motivated violence.
Increased Sentences for Racist Attacks
Under the proposals, at present being worked on by the Home Office, the new
offence would increase the maximum sentence for actual bodily harm from five to
seven years if an attack was racially motivated.
In cases of grievous bodily harm - which already carries a maximum life
sentence - ministers will also make clear that they will want judges to add an
extra two years to the sentence they would otherwise have imposed if a racial
element was involved.
The courts would also be expected to impose higher sentences for other
racially-motivated crimes such as arson attacks.
Mr Straw will outline his thinking in a speech in the House of
Commons to the Black Jewish Forum.
He is expected to say: "The measures in the Crime and Disorder Bill will
send out a strong message that racial violence and racial harassment have no
place in our society and will not be tolerated."
It is expected that he will announce a wide-ranging investigation headed by a
senior judge into the handling of the case by the police and prosecuting
authorities as well as the wider implications of the killing.
"Strong Case"
It follows a meeting last month between the Home Secretary and Stephen's
parents, Doreen and Neville Lawrence, who have long been pressing for a public
inquiry.
Afterwards Mr Straw acknowledged that there was a "strong case" for some
form of inquiry. The Lawrence family have been bitterly critical of the failure of the authorities to secure any convictions after their son who was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Eltham, south east London, in 1993.
The Crown Prosecution Service dropped charges against two white youths while a
private prosecution by the family collapsed after the evidence of a key witness
was ruled inadmissable.
However earlier this year an inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful
killing by five white youths in an unprovoked racist attack.
June 24: "Strong Case" for Inquiry Says Straw
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