I think it was the right decision to remove the unofficial memorial and it seems that it was both at the request of his family and because it had become a shrine for Far Right activists.

The irony of them threatening council workers and making death threats is truly appalling.

There has been a decision to install a plaque at St George's Garrison Church opposite the barracks.. Not at the sight where he was murdered, but at least his name is honoured in public not that far from it.

bbc.co.uk/news

I personally feel that a simple plaque where he fell would have been better, but clearly it would have only continued as a very unwelcome rallying point for the violent nutters, most of whom I doubt are anything to do with the area or the barracks and armed services unit to which he belonged and who couldn't care less about him or his family.

The issue with Stephen Lawrence is partly, as already mentioned, one of how very wrong the police got the investigation, the treatment of the family etc and also reflects that he becomes more of the symbol of all that is still wrong with our society.

So to have the day set in his name should become the day that all those victims of racial violence are remembered and we have pause for thought to consider whether the police are still getting things very wrong - as they are in so many ways, not to mention our justice system.

I was undecided about memorials in general as I first started to think about this;  should a plaque should be placed whereever anyone has been murdered?  The problem with this is that whilst it is there as a reminder to all about a senseless and brutal loss of life at the hands of others, where does it end if you include domestic murders etc?

I'm not against them by any means and perhaps there should be more simple plaques to honour those killed on duty?

Yet even then, people walk past / over memorial plaques and never give them a glance or second thought, so perhaps the memories must be firmly kept and honoured by those who care.