Unfit for discipline

A number of senior police officers have taken the retirement option rather than face investigations into allegations of misconduct - including all those in charge of the original hunt for Stephen Lawrence's killers.

Figures show 166 officers in the space of five years have used early retirement to avoid disciplinary action. Among the most high-profile was Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, responsible for policing at the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 fans lost their lives, who retired on a full pension and was ruled unfit to face a disciplinary hearing.

In the Lawrence case, four detectives retired before they could face disciplinary action. The Macpherson Report went on to criticise all four.

One, Detective Superintendent Ian Crampton, headed the investigation for the first three days but made a "vital mistake" in failing to arrest the suspects within 36 hours, undermining hopes of securing forensic evidence. He would have faced neglect of duty charges but retired after 30 years' service.