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US government criticises ‘two-tier’ UK policing after Henry Nowak murder
TL;DR
The US state department criticized 'two-tiered policing' in the UK following the murder of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student. The criticism highlights concerns about perceived bias in law enforcement after Nowak was handcuffed by police while dying.
Key points
- US state department criticized UK for two-tiered policing
- Henry Nowak was murdered by Vickrum Digwa
- Nowak was handcuffed by police while dying
- Criticism highlights concerns about bias in law enforcement
- Elon Musk and Nigel Farage commented on the case
Mentioned in this story
Henry NowakVickrum DigwaElon MuskNigel FarageUS state department
The US state department has criticised “two-tiered policing” in Britain in a message of condolence to the family of the murder victim Henry Nowak in a thinly veiled rebuke of the UK government.
The 18-year-old student’s murder has been claimed by some as evidence of two-tier policing in the UK – the argument that some groups of people are dealt with more harshly than others for ideological reasons.
Nowak was handcuffed by Hampshire police officers as he lay dying after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, had falsely accused him of racist abuse. Digwa was ultimately convicted of murder and jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years.
The billionaire owner of X, Elon Musk, and the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, are among those who have claimed the circumstances of Nowak’s false arrest and murder was evidence of bias against white people . Both have in turn been accused of exploiting the teenager’s death.
On Thursday night the US state department, responsible for foreign policy and led by Marco Rubio, waded in to the debate. In a post on X, the department said: “Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilisational decline. They must be rejected across the West. The United States sends our condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and the people of the United Kingdom at this troubling time.”
It came after Keir Starmer accused Musk of “interfering in our politics” and attempting to create division.
Musk is a regular poster of ethno-nationalist content, and a supporter of Restore Britain, the hard-right party set up by Rupert Lowe, a former Reform UK MP.
The prime minister’s comments came after weeks of posts by Musk on his social media platform about Nowak’s murder, many of which have used far-right themes and talking points.
Starmer met Nowak’s family at Downing Street on Thursday to discuss a response to the actions of Hampshire police, saying after that he had been “profoundly humbled” and promised to take “whatever action is required to right the wrongs in this case”.
The police watchdog, the Independent Office of Police Conduct, is examining the behaviour of the officers who handcuffed Nowak after he had been fatally stabbed.
Eleven police officers and one police dog were injured on Tuesday night after crowds including far-right agitators in what was billed as a protest about Nowak’s death and his treatment by police.
Q&A
What did the US state department say about UK policing after Henry Nowak's murder?
The US state department criticized the UK for 'two-tiered policing' and expressed condolences to Henry Nowak's family, highlighting concerns over ideological bias in law enforcement.
Who was Henry Nowak and what happened to him?
Henry Nowak was an 18-year-old student who was murdered by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely accused him of racist abuse before being convicted of murder.
What is the significance of the term 'two-tiered policing' in this context?
'Two-tiered policing' refers to the perception that certain groups are treated more harshly by law enforcement for ideological reasons, which has been highlighted in the aftermath of Nowak's murder.
