Downing Street has rejected the Trump administration's criticism of 'two-tier policing' in the UK, after the US State Department offered condolences to the family of murdered teenager Henry Nowak. A No 10 spokesperson said the government did not share the State Department's view, echoing Justice Secretary David Lammy, who earlier said the claim did not chime with his experience.
The Liberal Democrats condemned the US statement as 'flagrant foreign interference that seeks to fan the flames of division' and called for the US ambassador to be summoned. However, No 10 said the relationship with the US remained 'incredibly strong' despite the disagreement, and declined to comment on whether the US would be rebuked diplomatically.
The State Department's post on X on Thursday said: 'Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilisational decline. They must be rejected across the West.' The post offered condolences to Nowak's family and the British people. The 18-year-old student was handcuffed by Hampshire police as he lay dying from stab wounds; his killer, Vickrum Digwa, was jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years.
Claims of two-tier policing have been amplified by Elon Musk and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who alleged bias against white people. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Nowak's family on Thursday and promised to take 'whatever action is required to right the wrongs'. The police watchdog is investigating the officers' actions. Eleven police officers and a police dog were injured on Tuesday night during a protest linked to Nowak's death.
