UK police to pay out over racist Lawrence case

LONDON, Mar 10 (Reuters) Scotland Yard said today it is to pay 100,000 pounds compensation to a survivor of the racist attack that killed black teenager Stephen Lawrence over complaints he made about his treatment by police.

Black teenagers Duwayne Brooks and Lawrence were attacked by a gang of white youths in Eltham, south London, in April 1993.

Lawrence was fatally stabbed.

The Metropolitan Police was later branded ''institutionally racist'' in a 1999 inquiry into its botched investigation and Brooks claimed police treated him like a criminal instead of a victim in the aftermath of the attack.

''The Metropolitan Police Service can confirm that it has reached a settlement regarding civil actions brought by Duwayne Brooks against the Metropolitan Police Service,'' a Scotland Yard spokesman said today.

''The claimant has agreed to discontinue a claim against a number of named individuals.

''The claims against the Commissioner have been settled. This has been a protracted and difficult period for all persons involved and was initially borne out of the tragic racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and the attack on Duwayne Brooks.'' Terms of the settlement include a written letter of apology and compensation of 100,000 pounds, the spokesman added.

No one has ever been convicted of the Lawrence murder. Five men were initially charged but the case against them was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service for lack of evidence.

REUTERS SY KN1930