In a letter to the Guardian, Savitri Hensman and Sarmad Ahmad Anwar respond to coverage of the death of Henry Nowak, highlighting concerns about police conduct and far-right exploitation of the case.
Hensman argues that officers at the scene failed to act swiftly to check on the health of someone in extreme distress, and that assumptions based on statistical norms should not override individual circumstances. She warns that backtracking on efforts to reduce bias will not prevent future tragedies but make them more likely.
She calls for a review of policing guidelines to prioritise the wellbeing and safety of anyone at risk of serious illness or injury, including applying handcuffs only after medical checks if the suspect is unarmed. Without such changes, she warns, more people will die unnecessarily in police custody.
Sarmad Ahmad Anwar, a young British Muslim, expresses sadness over the murder and condemns those using the tragedy to advance political agendas. He notes that Henry's family have stated the case is not about race or religion, and urges that the memory of Henry Nowak be honoured by seeking justice and respecting the family's wishes, rather than turning the tragedy into a wider racial or religious conflict.
