Below is an excerpt from the Richard Walton profile at the former Undercover Research Group wiki, last updated in 2019. A new profile will appear on this page, after evidence relating to this officer is made available by the Inquiry.
Richard William Walton (born June 1965) is a former Head of Counter-Terrorism Command (SO15) within the Metropolitan Police Service. In March 2014, the Ellison Review into corruption and spying around the Stephen Lawrence Murder Inquiry revealed Walton had a meeting with an undercover officer infiltrating campaign groups working closely with the Lawrence family. At that time, Walton was part of the Lawrence Review Team, preparing the Metropolitan Police submissions and responses to the Macpherson Inquiry into the failed murder investigation. The meeting had been set up by Bob Lambert, acting chief of the Special Demonstration Squad, and handler of the undercover HN81 'Dave Hagan' - whom the Ellison Inquiry called 'the spy in the Lawrence camp.'
Ellison was critical of the meeting taking place, calling it 'wrong-headed' and noted that it could have sparked disorder if it had become publicly known. He also criticised Walton for retracting his detailed earlier statement once he knew he would be criticised. As a result of this criticism and public outcry over spying on the Lawrences, Walton was 'temporarily' removed from his post and his conduct was referred to the Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC). He was reinstated on 1 December 2014. However, in May 2015 the IPCC announced the investigation was continuing and being widened.
In January 2016 it emerged that Walton was retiring ahead of any outcome, a move that would allow him to avoid disciplinary hearings following the IPCC probe. This came under criticism from Stephen Lawrence's mother Doreen who called on Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe to suspend Walton, saying:
I find it upsetting to think that Commander Walton might be able to retire without being held to account [...] He shouldn't be allowed to retire just when the IPCC says there's a case to answer.
HN183 Richard Walton gave evidence to the Inquiry on 23 and 24 July 2026. Almost all of the questions focused on his meeting with HN10 Bob Lambert ('Bob Robinson') and HN81 'Dave Hagan' ('the spy in the Lawrence camp') in the former's back garden (or house).
Walton suggested the meeting had little or no significance for him or in general. This despite Walton's involvement (as detailed above) in both the Lawrence review team and subsequently an investigative squad focussing on racist violence - a direct response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.
A full account will follow.