Stephen Lawrence's parents call for young people to reject violence on first memorial day for murdered black teenager

Father says every new stabbing 'brings me back to the morning when I woke up and realised that Stephen was murdered'

A report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1999 found ‘unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping’ (Family Handout/PA)

The murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence should inspire young people to reject violence and racism, his parents have said on the anniversary of his death.

The first-ever Stephen Lawrence Day marks the date in 1993 when the 18-year-old was stabbed to death as he waited for a bus in southeast London.

His father Neville Lawrence, said: “I wish a day in my son's memory was for more joyful reasons, but I am pleased and very proud that there is Stephen Lawrence day so people will always remember him and the tragedy of his death.

“With the level of violence on our streets at the moment I hope that Stephen's day will be used to talk about peace as well as to remember Stephen's life, which was cut too short.”

Dr Lawrence is president of a violent crime prevention group that aims to reduce bloodshed among young people and divert them away from crime, amid record fatal stabbings in England and Wales.

He said that whenever he now hears of a killing of a young person "whether it is a black boy or a white boy - it just brings me back to the morning when I woke up and realised that Stephen was murdered".

He added: "I don't think about my son's other killers being brought to justice any more. I am too busy trying to help the cause of reducing violence on our streets. Instead of being angry I try to use my energy to motivate children and tell them that the can achieve whatever they want to achieve.”

Stephen was murdered on 22 April, 1993 by a gang of racists in south east London as he waited for a bus with his friend Duwayne Brooks.

Two of his murderers – Gary Dobson and David Norris – were jailed in 2012 after police were able to use mitochondrial DNA testing, which focuses on the genetic makeup of hair cells, to link them with the crime.

Their suspected accomplices have never been brought to justice.

Stephen’s mother, Baroness Lawrence, recently told MPs that the fight against institutional racism had “become stagnant”.

She said: “If the amount of white kids were being murdered on our streets as the amount of black kids, society would not have sat back and allowed that to happen.”

On the anniversary of her son's death she said Stephen “would have been impressed to see what his legacy has achieved”.

Writing in The Guardian, she added: “But we still have some way to go in creating a truly civilised British society that treats everyone with fairness and respect.

“I hope that today, people from all walks of life will take a moment to consider how they can take an active role in building an inclusive society for everyone to live their best life, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, religion, disability or background.”

Stephen's murder shocked the nation but the original police investigation into his death was hampered by prejudice, incompetence and alleged corruption.

The 1999 Macpherson report into the case became a watershed moment for race relations in the UK, after it accused Scotland Yard of institutional racism.

Last year, it said that the current criminal investigation would be shelved unless any new significant information came to light.

But a public inquiry into the actions of undercover police officers, who are said to have targeted campaigners supporting the Lawrence family, continues.

As events were held by the Metropolitan Police to mark Stephen Lawrence Day, Commander Mark McEwan said: “Stephen's senseless murder had a profound impact on society, and has been the catalyst for significant, positive changes to the way we police today.”

Chief constable Jon Boutcher, head of a national police committee on race, said he was "shocked" to encounter younger people unaware of who Stephen was.

"Stephen's memory should live in all our efforts to detect, address and wipe out any traces of institutional racism," he added.

"Shockingly there remain some police forces with no black representation among their ranks whatsoever."

Theresa May said Stephen’s murder was a “watershed moment for our country”.

“It was a moment that demanded we wake up to the reality of the racism that still exists in our society and the obstacles that far too many young people live with every single day of their lives,” the prime minister added. "It was a moment that demanded all of us work together to bring about positive change."

She said Stephen Lawrence Day would give children the chance to learn about his life and legacy, and paid tribute for his parents and campaigners who had "fought heroically to ensure that their son's life and legacy is not forgotten".

Additional reporting by Press Association