Duwayne Brooks
Encyclopedia
Duwayne Brooks is a Liberal Democrat
politician in the United Kingdom
and is a Councillor in the London Borough of Lewisham
. He was the best friend of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence and was with him when he died.
on 27 September 1974, Brooks grew up in Deptford and attended Blackheath Blue Coat Secondary School in Charlton. In 1991 he went to study Engineering at Woolwich College before moving on to Lewisham College
a year later.
, which altered the Double jeopardy
ruling.
He was re-elected to the Downham Ward in May 2010 and also appointed as Community Cohesion and PREVENT Champion at the Local Government Group months later .
In the Autumn of 2010, Brooks was named amongst the potential candidates for the London mayoral election, 2012
but failed to get approved candidate status to stand as a GLA candidate.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and is a Councillor in the London Borough of Lewisham
London Borough of Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham...
. He was the best friend of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence and was with him when he died.
Early life
Born in Lewisham, LondonLewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
on 27 September 1974, Brooks grew up in Deptford and attended Blackheath Blue Coat Secondary School in Charlton. In 1991 he went to study Engineering at Woolwich College before moving on to Lewisham College
Lewisham College
Lewisham College is a further education college in Lewisham, south-east London.Lewisham College is located in the London Borough of Lewisham in south-east London. The college comprise campuses in Lewisham Way, New Cross and at Deptford Church Street...
a year later.
Murder of Stephen Lawrence
Brooks, as a close friend, was with Stephen Lawrence when he was murdered on 22 April 1993. The aftermath of the murder has extreme importance in both British political and legal history. It led to an inquiry headed by Sir William Macpherson that concluded the Metropolitan Police Force was “institutionally racist” and heavily contributed to the creation and passing of the Criminal Justice Act 2003Criminal Justice Act 2003
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is a wide ranging measure introduced to modernise many areas of the criminal justice system in England and Wales and, to a lesser extent, in Scotland and Northern Ireland....
, which altered the Double jeopardy
Double jeopardy
Double jeopardy is a procedural defense that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same, or similar charges following a legitimate acquittal or conviction...
ruling.
Political career
In February 2009, Brooks became a Councillor for the Liberal Democrats in the London Borough of Lewisham following a by-election in the Downham Ward . Later that year he was elected onto the Safer Communities Board at the Local Government Group as Lead Member for the Liberal Democrats .He was re-elected to the Downham Ward in May 2010 and also appointed as Community Cohesion and PREVENT Champion at the Local Government Group months later .
In the Autumn of 2010, Brooks was named amongst the potential candidates for the London mayoral election, 2012
London mayoral election, 2012
The 2012 London mayoral election will be held on Thursday 3 May 2012 to elect the Mayor of London. It will be the fourth such election since the post of Mayor of London was started in 2000...
but failed to get approved candidate status to stand as a GLA candidate.