The father of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence has filed a complaint after being stopped by police.

Neville Lawrence said he was unlawfully stopped on 27 December by officers investigating a robbery.

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) confirmed it had received notice of the complaint over the incident which took place at 12.50am.

Mr Lawrence said he was in a car with his cousin when he was pulled over by two patrol officers on the Lisson Grove estate in Paddington, west London.

Both men were held for 15 to 20 minutes and were questioned, but not searched.

The officers, from Marylebone police station, were investigating a robbery which had occurred nearby a few hours earlier.

The PCA said the complaint would be referred to the Area One Complaints Unit of the Metropolitan Police.

Second complaint

The force could then refer it back to the PCA, which could also refer the complaint for investigation.

The incident comes only weeks after the Lawrence family launched legal action against 42 police officers, including Met chief Sir Paul Condon, involved in the bungled investigation into their son's unsolved murder.

Stephen was stabbed to death in a racist attack by a gang of white youths at a bus stop in Eltham, south east London, in April 1993.

Asked about the incident, a Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "Two police constables from Marylebone police station spoke to two men at approximately 12.50am on December 27 as they left an address in St John's Wood.

"They spoke to the men to see if they could provide information following a robbery that had earlier taken place in the St John's Wood area.

'They were not arrested'

"Whilst speaking to the men, the officers clarified the ownership details of their car.

"The two men were not arrested and went on their way following the conversation."

The incident is likely to be seen as a further blow to the Metropolitan police, which was accused of institutional racism during the inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's death.

It will also revive controversy over police stop and search powers, fuelling beliefs that black people are targeted disproportionately.

The complaint comes only days before the Met is expected to face further criticism on its attitude to racism and its record on solving murders in a report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.