Special event to mark Stephen Lawrence Day held at North Herts College

Officers and staff around the county are joining with partners and local communities to mark the life of Stephen Lawrence.

Stephen was murdered in a racist attack in south London in 1993, when he was just 18 years old. Stephen Lawrence Day (April 22) was created by the Stephen Lawrence Foundation as a celebration of his life and legacy. It exists to inspire a more equal, inclusive society, and to foster opportunities for marginalised young people in the UK.

On Wednesday 19 April, Chief Constable Charlie Hall joined North Herts Chief Inspector Hannah Treadwell and the Hate Crime officer for North Herts, Dee Marr, at North Herts College in Hitchin.

Students from the Public Services Course took part in an interactive session presented by Dee, focussing on Stephen Lawrence and the impact his murder has had on society and more specifically policing.

Commenting on the event, Chief Inspector Treadwell said: “It was great to be able to have this opportunity to speak to the students and hear their views and experiences around race and policing.

“The death of Stephen Lawrence has had huge ramifications for the way we police our Black communities, and we are still learning and understanding as we move forward. Young people are the future and we need their trust, support and help to tackle racism in society.”

Dan Bateman, Lecturer for Sports and Public Services added: "It's been a real privilege for us within the public services department to pay our respects to the legacy of Stephen Lawrence with this event. 

“We are very grateful to Chief Constable Hall and his team for their time in meeting our students.  Stephen's murder happened so many years before the students were born, many of them weren't familiar with the case.  They have found learning about the case really interesting, particularly the impact it has had on our police and legal system. 

“Today was another example of the fantastic relationship NHC has with our local police force and another great opportunity for our students to see the amazing work the police do in action".

Hertfordshire Constabulary is committed to promoting race and inclusion both within the force and in the communities it serves. This work is ongoing, and the force is fully supporting the new National Race Action Plan, which aims to address race disparities affecting Black people and change a legacy of distrust.

The plan complements the work already taking place within Hertfordshire Constabulary, a key a part of which is the creation of a new ‘Race and Inclusion Board’. This board is made up of volunteers from the Black communities in Hertfordshire. Its role is to track the force’s progress against its objectives around race and diversity, as well as those in the national plan, and to observe and advise.

Chief Constable Charlie Hall speaking to North Herts College students