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John Grieve will act as a special advisor to the West Mercia police inquiry into the deaths of Harold "Errol" McGowan, 34, and his nephew Jason, 20.
 John Grieve: Acting as special adviser to West Mercia police
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Members of their family believe they were killed by a racist death squad after being subjected to racial harassment from far-right groups.
But they say West Mercia police failed to entertain the possibility the men were victims of racist murders.
Solicitor Imran Khan, who is representing the McGowans, welcomed the appointment of Scotland Yard's Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Grieve to the inquiry.
Mr Khan said Mr Grieve, head of the Metropolitan Police racial and violent crime task force, would have unfettered access to the investigation and would act as the "de facto senior investigating officer".
 Harold McGowan: House sitting for a friend
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Mr Khan added that he hoped Mr Grieve would examine how the investigation has been conducted and determine the course of future inquiries.
West Mercia Chief Constable Peter Hampson said a new joint investigation into the deaths, launched on 1 February, was progressing well.
'No stone unturned'
But he said his force had failed to establish an effective working relationship with members of the McGowan family.
"Whilst West Mercia Police has considerable experience in the investigation of serious crimes and suspicious deaths, John Grieve has recent and relevant experience of working with bereaved black families," Mr Hampson said in a statement.
 Jason McGowan had been investigating his uncle's death
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Mr Hampton said a team of 47 officers, lead by Det Supt Mel Shore, would leave no stone unturned in the search for the truth concerning the deaths.
The McGowan family claims police assumed the hangings were suicides.
The body of Harold McGowan was found on 2 July last year hanging from a door handle in a house he was looking after for a friend.
Jason McGowan, who had been investigating the death of his uncle, was found hanging from railings on New Year's Day.
But not all members of the family believe the men were murdered.
Robert King, the father of Jason McGowan, has said his son took his own life and urged an end to "lies and rumours" that he was killed by racists.
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