Lord Condon: 'I didn't authorise Lawrence police smear'

Reports the police wanted to smear the family of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence are to be investigated by a senior barrister, the BBC understands.

Mark Ellison QC is already looking into allegations of police corruption in the initial investigation of the murder.

Undercover officer Peter Francis says he was instructed in 1993 to find information that could discredit the family and anti-racism campaigners.

Scotland Yard has refused to confirm or deny the claims made in the Guardian.

Scotland Yard chief at the time, Lord Condon, says he did not authorise and was never aware of a police smear campaign against the family.