Two former suspects in the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry who were jailed for a racist attack on a black police officer have been released from prison.

David Norris, 25, and Neil Acourt, 27, were sentenced to 18-months in prison at Woolwich Crown Court last September for an attack on Detective Constable Gareth Reid in south-east London.

Norris, a passenger in a car driven by Acourt, threw a drink and shouted racist abuse at Mr Reid, who is black, as he walked home from Eltham railway station on 11 May 2001.

After serving eight months in prison the pair were released on Friday from Elmley Prison in Kent under the Home Detention Curfew, prison sources confirmed.

'Rising xenophobia'

Norris, of Berryfield Close, Chislehurst, Kent, and Acourt, of Dutton Street, Greenwich, south-east London, will both be electronically tagged.

Ravi Chand, president of the National Black Police Association, criticised the move.

He said: "Considering the current climate, the way we've seen rising xenophobia and racism and fear within the black communities, it is wholly inappropriate to release these people early."

Mr Chand added that if the government wanted to "clear space" in prisons, it should consider releasing black prisoners, many of whom were first-time offenders who had demonstrated they were less likely to commit further crimes.

Chief Inspector Leroy Logan, chairman of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, said: "As far as we're concerned, we've got to question whether they've (Acourt and Norris) learnt anything from all of this.

"We've got to be mindful of them reoffending."

'Traumatic period'

Gareth Reid has been off work since early last year in order to resolve personal matters following the racist attack, he explained.

The officer's home address was also disclosed to Acourt and Norris's defence team, which caused him great concern.

Mr Logan added: "He's gone through a really traumatic period, you really cannot understand it unless you've been in that position.

"He's now coming out of this very difficult time and we look forward to him resuming work in the not too distant future."