Post by Taxigirl on Dec 3, 2003 10:41:48 GMT
Scotland Yard is following up new leads in the murder of an officer in north London 18 years ago.
Pc Keith Blakelock was hacked to death by a mob during the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham in 1985.
New information has come to light, which police believe is strong enough to merit further inquiries and could include DNA tests on exhibits.
The case has been controversial, following the wrongful conviction of Winston Silcott for the murder.
Mr Silcott, 43, was cleared at the Court of Appeal in 1991, but served 17 years in jail for the murder of boxer Anthony Smith. He was freed in October.
The decision by the Metropolitan Police to re-open the investigation has been made following consultation with Pc Blakelock's family and members of the black community.
Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said the new investigation was not something police had undertaken lightly.
He said: "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...whose views have greatly shaped how we will approach this new inquiry."
Father-of-three Pc Blakelock, who was posthumously awarded the Queen's Medal for Bravery, died after confronting rioters on the Broadwater Farm housing estate.
The riots began after 49-year-old Cynthia Jarrett collapsed and died of heart failure during a police raid on her home.
Detectives are also re-investigating the attempted murder of Pc Richard Coombes during the disturbances.
Both cases have been under review since January 2000, which police say has identified new lines of inquiry.
Mr Ghaffur stressed the investigation was only into the attacks on Pc Blakelock and Pc Coombes and not on any other incidents during the riots.
"This was a brutal murder on an unarmed police officer who was protecting the local community.
"This new inquiry is a mark of our commitment to protect our police officers and the people they serve and bring to justice those who seek to harm them."
The BBC's crime correspondent Neil Bennett said it was his understanding some DNA tests could be carried out on some exhibits in the case and people are going to be re-interviewed.
He said: "(The leads) must be significant because the Metropolitan Police would not re-open this case if it was not something important and different."