Scotland Yard has been accused of arrogance and resistance to change by Doreen Lawrence, 25 years after the publication of the damning Macpherson report.

In an article for the Guardian, the social justice campaigner said it is “sickening to feel that the same issues are still happening today”, in reference to the insufficient progress since the report in February 1999 about the force’s flawed investigation into the murder of her son, Stephen Lawrence.

The report by Sir William Macpherson, a retired high court judge, concluded that the investigation into the fatal stabbing in 1993 in Eltham, south-east London, had been “marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership”.

A total of 70 recommendations were made to transform the police’s attitude towards race relations and improve accountability, which led to the introduction of detailed targets for the recruitment, retention and promotion of black and Asian officers, as well as the creation of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. 

Lady Lawrence said the retention of black officers and barriers to their promotion up the ranks remains a pertinent issue today. She wrote: “I ask myself why the police are so resistant to change. My only conclusion is that they are arrogant, they believe only in themselves and don’t think they need to change.

“Occasionally I hear that a police officer has been suspended, but it’s not enough.

“So much more needs to be done. I’ve spoken to the commissioner and one of the things I told him is that only when the community can see and experience change, can they truly say they are making changes.

“Recruitment and retention of black officers within the police was one of the big areas that Macpherson highlighted for improvement. And it is a crucial issue today. In my experience, many senior officers are capable of understanding the issues involving policing of the black community. But the lower ranks don’t.”

The Labour peer said figures show that black officers are still more likely to be disciplined than their white counterparts and are less likely to be promoted.

Lawrence also called for “urgent reform” of the education system to help eradicate discrimination. “Twenty-five years after Macpherson suggested reforming our national curriculum, black Britons still don’t learn about their history in British society,” she said. “Unless this is changed, they will always grow up feeling that they are seen as second-class citizens.

“When the Windrush scandal happened, people needed to know that those from the Caribbean were asked to come here. That should have been part of our history lessons.”

Nicola Rollock, a professor of social policy and race at King’s College London, has also expressed concerns about “signs that we are now regressing in promoting racial justice”.

Writing in the Guardian, the author warned that a “lack of political leadership instead promises to fuel increased ignorance and division.”

“Macpherson and his advisers regarded the schools system as essential in eliminating racism from society,” she said. “Education has changed significantly since the recommendations were published in 1999. There is light there.

“But less so in our politics. Twenty-five years after the release of the Macpherson report – 30 years after Stephen’s murder – we remain in dire need of leaders who will recognise the struggles of racially minoritised groups, alongside the challenges faced by white working-class communities, and who will find bold ways to bring us together rather than divide us. That wait continues.” By Nadeem Badshah, Guardian

Macky Sall says consultations for organization of election of his successor will begin on Monday. 

Senegal’s president announced Thursday that his mandate as president will end on April 2 and consultations for the organization of the election of his successor will start next week.

Speaking in a media interview in the capital Dakar, Macky Sall said the date for holding presidential elections he had postponed remains open but he plans to leave his position as president after the end of his term.

“On April 2, 2024, my mission ends as the head of Senegal,” he said.

“As far as the date is concerned, we'll see from the outcome of consultations, which are expected to begin on Monday, Feb. 26 and probably end on Tuesday. If a consensus is not reached, everything will be referred to the Constitutional Council,” he said.

The election can be held before or after April 2, he added.

Sall announced the indefinite suspension of the Feb. 25 presidential election on Feb. 3, citing a dispute over the candidate list and alleged corruption of constitutional judges.

The National Assembly then passed a bill postponing the vote until Dec. 15 as security forces stormed the building and removed some opposition lawmakers.

But the Senegalese Constitutional Council declared the law postponing the country’s presidential vote to December “unconstitutional” and annulled his decree to delay the poll.

The election delay in the West African country triggered violent protests, during which three people were killed and dozens of others were arrested.

The protesters accused Sall of using “fallacious reasons to postpone the election” just hours before the campaign began. By James Tasamba, Anadolu Agency

President Ruto directed Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, who was also present, to adjust the reward system of sportsmen and women to meet their future needs/PCS

Ruto said the dedication of Kiptum, who tragically lost his life in a road accident on February 11, alongside his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana, enabled him to break through the glass ceiling and set world records.

President William Ruto has commemorated the late marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum as an ambitious, disciplined, and focused individual who dedicated himself to his craft.

Speaking on Friday, President Ruto highlighted Kiptum’s remarkable journey from humble beginnings to breaking world records, despite facing numerous challenges along the way.

Despite his humble background, Ruto said the dedication of Kiptum, who tragically lost his life in a road accident on February 11, alongside his Rwandese coach Gervais Hakizimana, enabled him to break through the glass ceiling and set world records.

“Kiptum had more reasons not to succeed than he had to succeed but he worked against the odds,” President Ruto remarked during Kiptum’s final sendoff at his Chepsaimo home in Keiyo South.

“He could have said I come from Village that is not very known , or I come from a family that cannot cater for me or that I don’t have even running shoes, that he ran barefoot in his earlier days, but he did  not see those impediments to his ambition and his success.”

President Ruto urged Kenyans to emulate Kiptum’s determination to propel the country forward and make Kenya great.

Kiptum legacy

He emphasized the importance of patriotism and urged citizens to contribute their best to nation-building.

Addressing Kenyan athletes, President Ruto called on them to uphold Kiptum’s legacy and strive to keep Kenya’s reputation as an athletics powerhouse alive, particularly in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games slated to take place from July 26 to August 11.

“We want you to make Paris an Olympics of Kevin Kiptum. We know you have all it takes,” he said. 

Kiptum’s sudden demise, alongside his coach, sent shockwaves globally, especially as he was preparing for the Rotterdam Marathon and the forthcoming Olympics.

His coach, Hakizimana, was laid to rest in Rwanda on Wednesday.

At just 24, Kiptum’s list of accolades included victories in prestigious marathons such as Valencia, Chicago, and London. By Bruhan Makong