1999: Police award Silcott damages

The Metropolitan Police Force (the Met) has announced a �50,000 out-of-court settlement to Winston Silcott, wrongly convicted of leading the murderous attack on Pc Keith Blakelock during the 1985 Broadwater Farm riot.

The father of three was beaten and hacked to death with a machete by a mob after he became separated from colleagues on Broadwater Farm estate in Tottenham, north London.

In 1987 Silcott, along with Mark Braithwaite and Engin Raghip, was convicted of the Pc's murder but all three were cleared in 1991 when their convictions were quashed by the Court of Appeal. At the time, Silcott received �17,000 in compensation.

Silcott, who is still in prison serving life for the murder of boxer Anthony Smith, was in the process of suing the Met for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution when the award was announced.

Forensic tests suggested evidence against Silcott may have been fabricated by police officers.

But former Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Melvin and ex-Detective Inspector Maxwell Dingle were cleared at the Old Bailey in 1994 of fabricating evidence.

Siclott 'pleased'

Silcott's solicitor, Clive Romain, told Channel 4 News said Silcott, who is currently in Maidstone prison, was "naturally pleased".

But in a statement, the Met, made clear it would not accept any responsibility for the wrongful conviction.

It said: "After careful consideration and detailed legal advice from senior counsel the Metropolitan Police Service has reluctantly decided to settle out of court the civil action brought by Winston Silcott.

"In settling this action for �50,000 we have not admitted liability."

The announcement has provoked an angry reaction from the Police Federation, opposition MPs and Pc Blakelock's widow, Elizabeth.

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