# Duwayne Brooks

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{{Short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name             = Duwayne Brooks
| image            = Duwayne Brooks.png
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}}
| education        = {{ubl|[Woolwich College](/source/Woolwich_College)|[Lewisham College](/source/Lewisham_College)}}
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1974|09|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place      = [Lewisham](/source/Lewisham), [London](/source/London), England
| occupation       =
| party            = {{ubl|[Conservatives](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) (2018–present)|Independent (2017–2018)|[Liberal Democrats](/source/Liberal_Democrats_(UK)) (until 2017)}}
| office = [Councillor](/source/Councillor) for<br />[Lewisham London Borough Council](/source/Lewisham_London_Borough_Council)
| term_start       = February 2009
| term_end         = May 2014
| 1blankname      = [Ward](/source/Wards_of_the_United_Kingdom)
| 1namedata       = [Downham](/source/Downham%2C_London)
}}
'''Duwayne Lloyd Anthony Brooks''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (born 27 September 1974) is a British former politician who served as a councillor in the [London Borough of Lewisham](/source/London_Borough_of_Lewisham). He was a friend of  [Stephen Lawrence](/source/Murder_of_Stephen_Lawrence) and was with him when he was murdered.<ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Tim |date=6 April 2003 |title='I just want to be free of Steve' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/apr/06/race.lawrence |newspaper=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian) |access-date=6 January 2011}}</ref>

==Early life==
Brooks was born in [Lewisham](/source/Lewisham) to Jamaican parents. He grew up in [Deptford](/source/Deptford) and attended [Blackheath Bluecoat Church of England School](/source/Blackheath_Bluecoat_Church_of_England_School) in Charlton. In 1991 he went to study engineering at [Woolwich College](/source/Woolwich_College) and at [Lewisham College](/source/Lewisham_College) a year later.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=Duwayne |date=7 September 2006 |title=Steve and Me: My friendship with Stephen Lawrence |publisher=BrooksBooks |isbn=978-0-95-526890-8}}</ref>

==Murder of Stephen Lawrence==
{{Main|Murder of Stephen Lawrence}}

Brooks was with his friend Stephen Lawrence when he was murdered on 22 April 1993, and experienced severe post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the attack.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Smith|first=Graham|date=1 August 2005|title=Police: Duty of Care to Victims and Witnesses: Brooks v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and others [2005] UKHL 24|url=https://doi.org/10.1350/jcla.2005.69.4.318|journal=The Journal of Criminal Law|language=en|volume=69|issue=4|pages=318–321|doi=10.1350/jcla.2005.69.4.318|s2cid=143308407|issn=0022-0183|url-access=subscription}}</ref> He sought damages under the tort of [negligence](/source/negligence) for his treatment by the police in the aftermath of the murder, as a suspect rather than a witness.<ref>''Brooks v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis'' [2005] 1 WLR 1495</ref> This claim was rejected on the basis that case precedent, particularly the case of ''[Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire](/source/Hill_v_Chief_Constable_of_West_Yorkshire)'' (1989) had not established that police should owe a duty of care to claimants impacted by their negligence.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Tofaris|first1=Stelios|last2=Steel|first2=Sandy|title=Negligence Liability for Omissions and the Police|date=March 2016|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-law-journal/article/abs/negligence-liability-for-omissions-and-the-police/AC83F61745C4326FEE217D993868C08D|journal=The Cambridge Law Journal|language=en|volume=75|issue=1|pages=128–157|doi=10.1017/S0008197315001002|s2cid=147867705|issn=0008-1973|doi-access=free|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Although, unlike ''Hill'', the police had harmed Brooks directly, rather than him being harmed by their lack of action, the police were not deemed liable for his psychiatric injuries.<ref>Michael v Chief Constable of South Wales Police [2015] UKSC 2, [2015] AC 1732 [32]</ref> The murder led to an inquiry headed by [Sir William Macpherson](/source/William_Macpherson_(judge)) which concluded that the [Metropolitan Police Force](/source/Metropolitan_Police_Force) was "institutionally racist".

Brooks was arrested after allegations that he was involved in an incident during [an anti-racist march](/source/1993_Welling_riots) outside the [British National Party](/source/British_National_Party) headquarters in [Welling](/source/Welling) days after the murder.<ref name="symonds" /> Although Brooks was charged, the judge dismissed the case against him.<ref name="symonds">{{cite news |last=Symonds |first=Tom |date=24 June 2013 |title=Police 'spied on' Stephen Lawrence family, says Guardian newspaper |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23022634 |publisher=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref> It was later revealed that the [Special Demonstration Squad](/source/Special_Demonstration_Squad) had been set to discover any incriminating details about members of the ''Justice for Stephen Lawrence'' campaign, including his parents and friends. The allegations against Brooks subsequently appeared.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.channel4.com/news/stephen-lawrence-undercover-police-officer-smear-campaign |title=Stephen Lawrence family 'targeted in police smear campaign' |publisher=[Channel 4 News](/source/Channel_4_News) |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=31 May 2018}}</ref> Brooks sued the Metropolitan Police in 2006, winning £100,000 in compensation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2006/mar/11/race.ukcrime|title=£100,000 Met compensation for Stephen Lawrence's friend|first=Rosie|last=Cowan|date=11 March 2006|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/26679/Stephen%20Lawrence%20murder:%20The%20persecution%20of%20Duwayne%20Brooks|title=Stephen Lawrence murder: The persecution of Duwayne Brooks|website=Socialist Worker (Britain)}}</ref>

==Political career==
In February 2009, Brooks became a councillor for the [Liberal Democrats](/source/Liberal_Democrats_(UK)) in the London Borough of Lewisham following a by-election in the [Downham](/source/Downham%2C_London) Ward.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bannerman |first=Lucy |date=17 February 2009 |title=Duwayne Brooks, friend of Stephen Lawrence, goes into politics |url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/duwayne-brooks-friend-of-stephen-lawrence-goes-into-politics-s6250lvn0kc |newspaper=[The Times](/source/The_Times) |access-date=6 January 2011 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/DemocracyAndElections/Elections/ElectionCountsAndResults/DownhamByElection.htm |title=Downham Ward by-election results 19 February 2009 |publisher=[London Borough of Lewisham](/source/London_Borough_of_Lewisham) |date=19 February 2009 |access-date=6 January 2011}}</ref> Later that year, he was elected onto the Safer Communities Board at the Local Government Group as Lead Member for the Liberal Democrats.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/councillor/profile-display.do?id=11435282 |title=LGA Safer and Stronger Communities Board Member Profile |publisher=Lga.gov.uk |access-date=6 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717024426/http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/councillor/profile-display.do?id=11435282 |archive-date=17 July 2011 }}</ref> He was re-elected for the Downham Ward in May 2010,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/DemocracyAndElections/Elections/LocalGovernment/DownhamResults6May2010.htm |title=Downham Ward Election results 6 May 2010 |publisher=London Borough of Lewisham |date=6 May 2010 |access-date=6 January 2011}}</ref> and appointed "Community Cohesion and PREVENT Champion" at the Local Government Group months later.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

In autumn 2010, Brooks was named among the potential candidates<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11386169 "Stephen Lawrence friend may run for mayor of London"], ''[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)'', London, 21 September 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.</ref> for the [2012 London mayoral election](/source/2012_London_mayoral_election)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lib-dem-failure-to-find-candidate-puts-party-out-of-mayoral-race-for-year-6525070.html |title=Lib-Dem failure to find candidate puts party out of mayoral race for year |newspaper=[London Evening Standard](/source/London_Evening_Standard) |date=15 October 2010 |access-date=30 May 2011}}</ref> but was never shortlisted. He was part of the team around the eventual Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate, [Brian Paddick](/source/Brian_Paddick), said to be as a proposed Deputy for Youth and Communities.<ref>"We need to get behind Brian Paddick and our London candidates now", by Chris Rennard, London Liberal Democrats election communication, 13 April 2012</ref> He stood unsuccessfully as the Liberal Democrat candidate for [Mayor of Lewisham](/source/Mayor_of_Lewisham) in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://alternativese4.com/2013/12/17/the-men-who-would-be-mayor-of-lewisham/ |title=The Men Who Would Be Mayor of Lewisham |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=3 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112074121/http://alternativese4.com/2013/12/17/the-men-who-would-be-mayor-of-lewisham/ |archive-date=12 January 2014 }}</ref> He was appointed [Officer of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) in the [2015 Birthday Honours](/source/2015_Birthday_Honours) for public and political service.<ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 61256
| date = 13 June 2015
| page = B11
| supp = y
}}</ref>

Brooks was shortlisted to be the party's candidate for the [2016 London mayoral election](/source/2016_London_mayoral_election), but withdrew in August 2015 in order to assist a review of stop and search by police in Northamptonshire.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-08-19/close-friend-of-murdered-teenager-stephen-lawrence-pulls-out-of-the-race-to-be-londons-next-mayor/|title=Close friend of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence pulls out of the race to be London's next mayor|date=19 August 2015|work=ITV News|access-date=1 June 2018|language=en}}</ref> In 2018, he stood unsuccessfully as an independent candidate to become Mayor of Lewisham.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/15787918.Stephen_Lawrence_pal_Duwayne_Brooks_launches_new_Lewisham_mayor_bid/|title=Stephen Lawrence pal Duwayne Brooks launches Lewisham mayor bid|date=21 December 2017|work=News Shopper|first=Jim|last=Palmer|access-date=15 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Toby|last=Porter|date=28 December 2017|access-date=15 April 2018|work=South London News|title=Stephen Lawrence friend is standing for borough mayor|url=https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/stephen-lawrence-friend-is-standing-for-borough-mayor/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108220535/https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/stephen-lawrence-friend-is-standing-for-borough-mayor/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=8 January 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=25&RPID=42792346 |title=Election results for London Borough of Lewisham |publisher=London Borough of Lewisham |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508073247/http://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=25&RPID=42792346 |archive-date=8 May 2018 |access-date=8 May 2018}}</ref>

Brooks joined the [Conservative Party](/source/Conservative_Party_(UK)) in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/stephen-lawrences-friend-duwayne-brooks-calls-on-sadiq-khan-to-quit-its-time-the-mayor-took-a3858441.html|title=Stephen Lawrence's friend Duwayne Brooks calls for Sadiq Khan to quit over violence surge|date=8 June 2018|website=Evening Standard}}</ref> He was longlisted to be their [2020 London mayoral candidate](/source/2020_London_mayoral_election), but was not selected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-44877662|title=London mayoral race: Tories shortlist 10 candidates|date=18 July 2018|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks, Duwayne}}
Category:1974 births
Category:Living people
Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Lewisham
Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) councillors
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:People from Deptford
Category:People from Lewisham
Category:English people of Jamaican descent
Category:Black British politicians
Category:Conservative Party (UK) councillors

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Duwayne Brooks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duwayne_Brooks) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duwayne_Brooks?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.