Letter: Lawrence apology

Lawrence apology

Sir: Ian Johnston ("Finally, police apologise to the Lawrence family", 18 June) has a strange way of saying sorry.

Firstly, he said that he "cannot and does not seek to justify" the way the case has been handled by the Metropolitan Police. He then did exactly this, saying, "we have tried ... to show imagination and determination to prosecute Stephen's killers".

Secondly, he quite rightly described what has happened to the Lawrence family as a "tragedy". He then completely devalues the word by saying that it has also been a "tragedy" for the Metropolitan police. Wrong. It has been a public relations disaster for the police.

Thirdly, why has it taken so long for this "apology" to come? The Metropolitan Police must have thought that the furore would eventually die down and that they would get away with it.

J HEPWORTH

Ipswich