'No corruption in Lawrence probe'

There was no evidence of dishonest links between John Davidson and one of the men suspected of the murder, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said.

Mr Davidson, a retired detective sergeant, was accused of taking a bribe to shield Stephen's killers from justice in a BBC documentary last year.

It was claimed he had a corrupt relationship with convicted drug dealer Clifford Norris, father of suspect David Norris.

But a year-long inquiry with unprecedented access to previously secret police files found no evidence of corruption.

The findings will reignite the firestorm of controversy that surrounded last year's broadcast of the documentary The Boys Who Killed Stephen Lawrence.

The Metropolitan Police reacted by lashing out at the BBC for broadcasting "unfounded allegations" and hyping them with its "powerful publicity machinery".

Senior IPCC investigator John Cummins personally delivered the results of his inquiry to the dead boy's parents Neville and Doreen Lawrence. Asked how they reacted, he said: "There is frustration. They have lived with Stephen's murder for 14 years. They want justice. There was disappointment."

Rebecca Marsh, an IPCC Commissioner, said now the "rumours" have been laid to rest the police can concentrate on catching Stephen's killers.

Stephen Lawrence was murdered by a gang of white youths as he walked home with a friend in south east London on April 22, 1993. The botched investigation, failed private prosecution and subsequent public inquiry would prove to be one of the most important chapters in modern policing history.