Another inquiry into Blakelock's murder? Let's also have one into who framed Silcott

The Metropolitan Police are about to stir up another hornet's nest. It seems that their current problems, which centre around the dissatisfaction of black police officers with the force, are not enough. They wish to add to these.

PC Keith Blakelock was hacked to death in an insurrection by black youths against the police on the Broadwater Farm estate in Tottenham, north London, in October 1985; a colleague was so severely wounded that he never resumed active duty.

An extensive investigation was launched. Six thousand statements were taken, and three young men were charged with murder and found guilty - Winston Silcott, Mark Braithwaite and Engin Raghip. All three convictions were eventually overturned by the Court of Appeal. Roy Amlot, the prosecutor, said: "We would not have gone against Braithwaite, against Raghip, or against any other defendants, having learnt of the apparent dishonesty of the officer in charge of the case." Silcott won £50,000 from the Met as a result.

Two officers were charged with corruption, but were acquitted. Now we are told that six new suspects have been identified using new video-enhancing techniques.

I have no objection to the reopening of the case - none whatsoever. But we are told that the new investigations will involve only the murder. Why confine it to that? Why exclude what may have been extensive law-breaking by the officers involved? Are these white police officers immune? Just as the police understandably want to know who - if not Silcott, Braithwaite and Raghip - was responsible for the murder, so the residents of Broadwater Farm and many others in the black community may want to know who - if not the acquitted officers - was responsible for fitting up the accused.

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, he of a dark skin, says: "We accept that the decision to launch this fresh investigation will be difficult for some sections of the community. Officers have consulted with a wide range of people in reaching this decision to reopen the case." How sweet!

I am shocked, however, by this boldness only weeks after further evidence of police racism was brought to public attention. Will the Met never learn?

Both the murder and the apparent framing of Silcott and his friends were heinous crimes. Reopen investigations against both, I say, or close the case for good.

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