Stephen Lawrence's death led to changes in the criminal justice system

But many have drawn comfort from that fact that, for British society as a whole, the legacy of Stephen's death has been positive.

Stephen's mother Doreen said she was "devastated" by the news there was not enough evidence to prosecute anybody.

The irony is that society has benefited where we have not Doreen Lawrence

She was angry that it had taken so long to draw that conclusion and felt she had been carrying an "unbearable load".

"The irony is that society has benefited where we have not," she said.

She vowed to carry on fighting for justice until her "dying day" and said she was considering challenging the Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to prosecute anyone for his murder in the High Court.

She said: "It seems as if Stephen's life meant nothing to those who initially were responsible for the investigation of his murder.

"The failure of the police to properly investigate in 1993 has directly led us to the position we are in today," she added.

Mrs Lawrence's solicitor Imran Khan said Stephen's death had left a "huge legacy" in terms of the criminal justice system.

"Where [Mrs Lawrence's] family have failed to get justice, others have benefited in society by better prosecutions, increased prosecutions, better police activity in investigations in cases involving those from minority communities," he said.

"The landscape of this country has changed indelibly for the future."

'Watershed'

The Metropolitan Police said it shared the frustration that no charges could be brought.

But it said Stephen's death had left a "completely different" police force.

It cited improved investigations of murder and serious crime; a better service for minority communities; and innovation in the way racist crime was dealt with.

"We remain entirely committed to work closely with all our communities to tackle racism in all its criminal forms," said Deputy Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.

The legacy of Stephen is a completely different Metropolitan Police service Sir Ian Blair, Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner

The home secretary said Stephen's story was a "tragedy".

But David Blunkett called the inquiry into the murder a "watershed for race relations in this country" and "a catalyst for much needed change within the criminal justice system and beyond".

He said most of the inquiry's recommendations had been implemented, and UK race law radically reformed.

He conceded more needed to be done, but said the government was committed to continuing improvements in the criminal justice system.

'Not surprising'

However, some race campaigners questioned whether the police and criminal justice system had changed very much.

Milena Buyum of the National Assembly Against Racism said she thought the news was "horrendous" but "not surprising".

"It's yet another example of how victims of racist attacks do not find justice," she said.

She said there had been efforts to improve the criminal justice system but it was still "permeated" by racism.

The leaders of the police force had made great efforts to make changes, "but progress is far too slow and there's not much evidence of any progress on the streets".

Do I think there could be another racist attack where someone is killed and no-one brought to justice? It has happened since. It will happen again Bobby Miles, 1990 Trust

Bobby Miles, assistant director of the 1990 Trust, said he felt an "utter and bitter disappointment" that there was to be no justice for Stephen.

He said Stephen's death had brought a "lot of good" to policing and criminal justice systems - but said the changes had been limited to "some recognition of the landscape" of racism among the institutions.

In some ways, he said, things had got worse since 1993 - citing stop-and-search and the numbers of black men in prison in particular.

"And do I think there could be another racist attack where someone is killed and no-one brought to justice? It has happened since. It will happen again."

The really sad fact is that somewhere, somebody in London knows who killed Stephen Lawrence Lee Jasper, race campaigner

Lee Jasper, race campaigner and senior advisor to London Mayor Ken Livingstone, said he was "deeply saddened" but not surprised that no conviction had been secured.

"It was always going to be the case, given the initial failings of the investigation," he said.

"Seeking to recover that position some years on was always going to prove enormously challenging."

However, Stephen's death had not been "in vain", he said.

"There have been substantive advancement in some areas of social equality, but we still have some way to go."

He said there could still be a prosecution if anyone with new information came forward.

"The really sad fact is that somewhere, somebody in London knows who killed Stephen Lawrence."