Richard Stone, who has died aged 86, played a major role in combating racism in Britain, in breaking down the barriers between the Jewish and Muslim communities and in highlighting the issue of homelessness. He was a key figure in the inquiry into the murder in 1993 of Stephen Lawrence and in exposing the violence often suffered by black men after being arrested or detained.
As a doctor working in west London from the 1970s onwards, he was disconcerted to be regularly confronted with young black men with serious injuries following their arrests by the police. His involvement led to a lasting friendship with Frank Crichlow, whose Mangrove restaurant acted as a community centre in Notting Hill and constantly attracted police attention.
