A minister has admitted that police anti-racism guidance is flawed amid outrage over the Henry Nowak case, where an innocent student bled to death after being handcuffed.
The tragic death of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old Southampton University student, has ignited a fierce debate about police anti-racism guidance in the UK. The controversy stems from body camera footage showing Mr. Nowak being handcuffed while bleeding to death, despite his pleas for help.
His assailant, Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh man, falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist attack by Mr. Nowak.
The values document issued by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) last year has come under intense scrutiny. The guidance, which aims to promote equality in policing, states that ‘producing equality of policing outcomes…
does not mean treating everyone the same or being colour blind.’ This statement has sparked a heated discussion about the interpretation and implementation of anti-racism policies within law enforcement.
The Minister’s Stance
Sarah Jones, the policing minister, admitted in a series of interviews that the guidance is ‘clumsy’ and ‘wrong.’ She stated, ‘It’s definitely clumsy.
I think it’s wrong. It gives the wrong impression…’ while emphasizing that ‘everyone must be equal under the law and we must ensure that is the case.’ Jones acknowledged the need to address historic and legitimate concerns about racism within police forces but stressed the importance of clear and unambiguous guidance.
Downing Street supported the NPCC’s decision to review the document, stating that ‘The NPCC is rightly reviewing the document to ensure there’s no ambiguity in their guidance.’ A spokesperson added, ‘We don’t think that language is right,’ but deferred to the NPCC to identify and address specific issues within the guidance.
The NPCC’s Response
Gavin Stephens, the chairman of the NPCC, acknowledged the criticism and announced a review of the guidance. He stated, ‘We are listening to legitimate concerns about how some of these commitments are worded or phrased, and where needed we can and will make changes, but this should not detract from the intent, which is to improve the quality of policing.’ The NPCC’s review aims to clarify the guidance and ensure it aligns with the principles of equality and fairness.
Defending the Guidance
Parm Sandhu, director of the London Policing College and the first Sikh chief superintendent in the Metropolitan Police, defended the guidance against accusations of a two-tier approach. She explained, ‘The guidance on racism is more about teaching people to understand different cultures. It doesn’t say you treat people differently. It says take into account different cultures because if you’re dealing with somebody who is deaf, blind…’
Sandhu emphasized that the guidance does not promote differential treatment but rather encourages officers to consider cultural contexts. She firmly rejected the notion of two-tier policing, stating, ‘I do not accept that there is two-tier policing in this country. I do not accept that police officers go to work thinking I am going to watch a young person bleed out.’
Addressing the Kirpan Controversy
In response to calls for Britain to end the religious exemption for carrying a traditional Sikh blade, Sandhu clarified, ‘You should not say that all Sikhs shouldn’t carry the kirpan because of what this individual has done in this case. And he did not use the kirpan.’ This statement underscores the importance of distinguishing between individual actions and broader cultural or religious practices.
The Home Secretary’s Statement
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, condemned the violence that followed the tragedy, describing it as ‘completely unacceptable.’ She wrote on social media, ‘The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension. There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.’
Mahmood also expressed gratitude to the police for their bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them. She highlighted the resilience and professionalism of law enforcement officers during a challenging time.
Police Involvement and Investigations
Hampshire Police confirmed that one of the officers involved in Mr. Nowak’s arrest had resigned, while three others remain serving. All four officers are being treated as witnesses in an investigation by the police watchdog. Additionally, a different officer received death threats and was forced to relocate after being wrongly identified online as being involved in the case. Mahmood informed the House of Commons about the officer’s relocation for the safety and security of his family.
Digwa, the perpetrator, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on Monday for stabbing Mr. Nowak six times. The case has highlighted the complexities and challenges of balancing anti-racism efforts with the principles of fairness and equality in policing.
