THE police officer who had overall responsibility for the inquiry into the Stephen Lawrence investigation was yesterday removed from his role because he faces disciplinary charges, but last night vowed to clear his name.

The place of St Andrews-born Detective Superintendent Albert Patrick, one of the country's most experienced and successful officers, is being taken by Assistant Commissioner John Grieve.

Mr Grieve was last year appointed to head a specialist racial and violent crimes task force in the wake of the much criticised Lawrence police investigation.

He will lead a team of 15 officers still investigating the 1993 racist murder of the black teenager.

Mr Neville Lawrence only recently learned that Mr Patrick had himself been under investigation following corruption inquiries into his junior officers when leading Scotland Yard's flying squad. On his behalf, lawyers wrote to Metropolitan Commissioner Sir Paul Condon, demanding that Mr Patrick be taken off the case.

However, Deputy Commissioner John Stevens said yesterday the decision to move Mr Patrick had been taken in December, adding: ''We decided yesterday that now would be an appropriate, sensitive, and sensible time to make that move.''

He said that Mr Patrick had not been charged, disciplined or suspended.

''Let's make it absolutely clear, the allegations against Mr Patrick are not connected in any way, shape, or form, with the Lawrence inquiry,'' he said.

''Allegations made against police officers have to be substantiated. They must be investigated and there must be substance to allegations before we act.''

There is no suggestion that Mr Patrick was himself corrupt. However, he was questioned over a claim that he failed to supervise allegedly corrupt officers under his command when he headed the squad.

Two officers recently admitted charges including one of conspiracy to steal cash, handling stolen goods and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Mr Patrick said last night he would not leave the force until he had proved his innocence.

Strenuously denying he had done anything wrong while based in east London with the Flying Squad, he declared: ''I am a big man, I will bounce back. I have done nothing wrong.''

Mr Lawrence said yesterday he was very shocked that Mr Patrick had been put in charge of the investigation into his son's death.

''The police have known about the allegations against the Flying Squad officers for over a year, but have said nothing to us.

''They didn't even bother to tell us that they had removed Mr Patrick from the inquiry - we only found out through the media.

''For me, it's just further proof that they do not, and have not, taken Stephen's murder seriously.''

The report of the inquiry, led by Sir William Macpherson, is expected to be published next month and, apart from police officers involved in initial investigations, it is expected to criticise the Lawrence family's legal team.

A failed private prosecution involving key suspects means that these individuals cannot ever again appear in court charged with the murder.

Mr Patrick, who was in operational charge of tackling crime and also in overall charge of all murder inquiries in the Metropolitan Police area, took over leadership of the Lawrence investigation a year ago. He will now carry out a review of major area crime units.

As a detective, he has solved all of his murder investigations except one. His most famous case was the 1993 serial killings of homosexuals, which led to the conviction of Colin Ireland on five murder charges.

Several times British super-heavyweight amateur wrestling champion, Mr Patrick captured a silver and two bronze medals for Scotland in three successive Commonwealth Games.

His moment of genuine international fame, however, came at the closing ceremony of the 1986 Commonwealth Games at Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, in which he carried the Scottish flag when it famously blew away, leaving him brandishing only a staff.