An annual remembrance of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence will remind us there are still “some who want to cause division”, according to one councillor.

Twenty-five years after the teenager was killed in a racist attack on the streets of Eltham, Greenwich and Bexley councils have reacted to the Prime Minister’s news that an annual day of commemoration will be held.

Theresa May said the event will be known as Stephen Lawrence Day – and will be held on April 22 each year.

A spokesman for Greenwich Council said: “We welcome this government initiative which might make people stop and think about the shocking impact of knife crime and violence.

“Sadly, we have had first-hand experience of how a few moments of madness can have a devastating and life-changing or even life-ending effect for the victim and lifelong consequences on their family and community.”

On the same day that Mrs May announced the day of remembrance, Woolwich town centre was closed as police investigated the stabbing of an 18-year-old man.

Two of the group of up to six thugs who attacked Stephen and his friend Duwayne Brooks in Eltham, simply because they were black, have been convicted of murder.

The murder was a watershed moment in race relations, and last week councillors at a Bexley meeting condemned racism and hate crimes, drawing attention to Stephen’s anniversary and to the council’s decision to shut down the BNP headquarters in Welling in 1995 after protests and marches.

Bexley councillor Peter Craske said in response to the announcement of Stephen Lawrence Day: “I think this is a good idea.

“Last week every Bexley councillor united together to condemn racism and we want to live in a community where everyone gets on together and enjoys life.

“Having an event like this annually will remind us that there are still some who do not want this and want to cause division.”

The BNP came just eight votes behind the Tories in a 2009 by-election in East Wickham.

Stephen’s father, Neville Lawrence, said recently he has forgiven his son’s killers as Scotland Yard admitted it had no new leads on the murder. 

Stephen Lawrence Day will be organised in conjunction with the charity set up in his memory.