Policing - in brief (15)
01 November 1998
UK: Met apologises to Menson family: At the beginning of December the Metropolitan police formally apologised to the family of black musician, Michael Menson, for mistakes made in their investigation of his death in February 1997. Michael was set alight, in what he described as a racist attack before he died, but the Metropolitan police ignored his information concluding that he had committed suicide. At a meeting between the family and representatives from the Metropolitan police, deputy commissioner John Stevens confirmed that errors that had been made and admitted that Michael had been murdered. John Grieve, of the Met's racial and violent crime task force, promised the family that they would have greater involvement into how the new investigation proceeds. Michael's brother, Kwesi, was cautious in welcoming the move pointing out that: "...it's 22 months since this should have been done." Guardian 2.12.98.