Henry Nowak’s family call for peace as they warn trust in police has been lost | Politics | News

Protesters clashed with police over the Henry Nowak murder (Image: Christopher Walls/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)
Henry Nowak’s family agreed to release the police bodycam footage of his death because they want “truth, accountability and change”, Kemi Badenoch has revealed. The Tory leader met with Henry’s mother, Lucy, Father, Mark, and stepmother Katie and admitted trust in the police has been lost. Mrs Badenoch hailed their “extraordinary” courage as she called for political and religious leaders to come together to “rebuild trust in the police”.
And the 18-year-old’s family repeated calls for peace after violence erupted in Southampton, with officers pelted with bricks, bottles, bins, cans and even an e-scooter. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “They have faced the agonising decision to release the harrowing body-worn camera footage, knowing how painful it would be and how strongly people would react. They did so because they want truth, accountability and change. They have asked that we work across political parties and religions to rebuild trust in the police.”
Mrs Badenoch said: “That trust has been broken because of what happened, and I agree with them on that.
“We must also be prepared to examine, carefully and seriously, religious practices or exemptions that permit the carrying of dangerous weapons in public, and other activities that are not conducive to the public good. We also need to examine where the law needs to change.
“Henry’s family do not want anger to tear communities apart. They are a family who have friends across faith and race, and so did Henry.
“His family want his memory to help bring our society together. Everyone knows I have strong views about how we should deal with equality under the law.
“What the family agreed with me on is that we need to bring common sense back, and that is what we should all be fighting for. I promised the family that we will work to ensure there is a positive legacy for Henry out of this tragedy.”
Police chiefs are reviewing anti-racism guidance which advises officers to treat ethnic minorities differently.
It states: “Our commitment to racial equity means producing equality of policing outcomes for people from different ethnic groups by responding to individuals and communities according to their specific needs, circumstances and experiences, with the understanding that these will be racialised … It does not mean treating everyone ‘the same’ or being ‘colour blind’(racial equality).”
The Chief Constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabularly, Alexis. Boon apologised for his officers “handcuffing and arresting Henry” as the teenager begged for help after being stabbed five times by Vickrum Digwa.
But he insisted the 18-year-old was not treated differently because of his race.
And Chief Constable Boon said the officers who handcuffed Mr Nowak after he was falsely accused of racism are no longer on frontline duties.
Speaking for the first time, Mr Boon said: “I am clear we are sorry for handcuffing and arresting Henry, but I don’t know if that is cutting through for people. We understand it and are genuinely sorry.
“I don’t accept the term of two-tier policing. I don’t recognise it.
“I see officers and staff out there day in, day out working incredibly hard to deliver for all our communities. I just don’t recognise the concept.”
Officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary restrained Henry Nowak after Digwa accused him of racism.
Mr Nowak, 18, told officers he couldn’t breathe nine times.
And when the University of Southampton student said he had been stabbed, a police officer responded: “I don’t think you have mate”.
Digwa was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the murder was a “watershed moment” that would lead politicians and police forces to confront “a two-tier culture where some groups receive greater protection than others”.
Mr Farage warned of more angry protests unless police chiefs scrap anti-racism guidance which tells officers to treat ethnic minorities differently.
The Reform UK leader told the Prime Minister “millions” believe “we’re living under two-tier policing”.
In response, Sir Keir Starmer launched a highly personal attack, claiming Mr Farage’s call for “rage” in response to the death of Henry Nowak was “unforgivable”.
And Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated that “there are questions that need to be answered” over the treatment of Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed after being stabbed, and urged politicians not to “whip up division”.
He said: “This is a tragic case.
“Clearly there are questions that need to be answered in relation to the policing in this case.
“The IOPC is looking at that. I think we need to let them get on with their job.
“But we really need to listen to Henry’s family, because they’re asking us, as politicians, as leaders, not to use his case to whip up division, not to cause disturbances, we have to listen to them.
“They’re grieving, they’ve lost their son, and so everything I’ve tried to do in relation to this case has been grounded in what they must be going through.
“Yes, we need to answer those questions. Yes, I think it’s right that there may need to be changes and we shouldn’t shy away from that, not for one moment.
“But how we conduct ourselves as politicians is really important and I call on all the politicians, just listen again to what the family are asking of us.”
The Prime Minister added that it was “right” that the National Police Chiefs Council is reviewing anti-racism guidance and that it “needs to be done properly”.
“I do think there are questions like how do allegations of racism … inform police decisions in cases like this? We do need to ask those questions and I accept that.”
