A minister has admitted that police anti-racism guidance is 'wrong', following a furious backlash over the Henry Nowak case. The guidance, issued by the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), has been at the heart of controversy after footage emerged of Mr Nowak being handcuffed and his pleas for help ignored as he bled to death on the floor.
His Sikh killer, Vickrum Digwa, had falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist attack by the 18-year-old Southampton University student. The 'values' document insists that 'producing equality of policing outcomes... does not mean treating everyone ''the same'' or being ''colour blind'''.
Minister's response
In a round of interviews this morning, policing minister Sarah Jones said the guidance 'gives the wrong impression'. 'It's definitely clumsy. I think it's wrong. It gives the wrong impression...' she told GB News. The minister stated that 'everyone must be equal under the law and we must ensure that is the case' but 'we can't shy away from what are historic and legitimate concerns about racism within police forces'.
NPCC review
The NPCC has launched a review into 'legitimate' criticism of the guidance. Chairman Gavin Stephens said: '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.'
However, Parm Sandhu, director of the London Policing College and the first and only Sikh chief superintendent in the Metropolitan Police, rejected accusations of a two-tier approach. She said: '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, because it doesn't cater to skin colour. If you are dealing with someone who is deaf or blind.'
She added: '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.'
Home Secretary's condemnation
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood branded last night's violence 'completely unacceptable', writing 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.' She added: 'I thank the police who have tonight shown great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them.'
Hampshire Police confirmed that one of the officers involved in Mr Nowak's arrest had resigned. Three of the officers involved are still serving, while all four are being treated as witnesses in an investigation by the police watchdog. Earlier, a different officer received death threats and was 'forced to relocate' after being wrongly identified online as being involved in the case, Ms Mahmood said. The officer had to relocate for the safety and security of his family, the Home Secretary told the House of Commons.
Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on Monday for stabbing Mr Nowak six times.
