Minister criticises police anti-racism guidance following riot over Henry Nowak death – UK politics live
Policing minister Sarah Jones called for calm after rioting in Southampton and said police anti-racism guidance should be reviewed.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
The live blog follows the political fallout from Henry Nowak’s death, which has sparked anger, rioting in Southampton and a fresh fight over police anti-racism guidance. Ministers are urging calm while the government moves to review the document.
A man’s death has turned into a big argument about police, race, and public anger in Britain. The government is asking people to calm down while it checks a police rulebook that some politicians say was written the wrong way.
Analysis
What happened
Keir Starmer said he felt “sick” after seeing video of Henry Nowak being handcuffed while dying from a stab wound, after police had been told he was accused of a racist assault. Nowak’s killer was jailed for life on Monday, but the case has triggered a wave of reaction that the article says culminated in rioting in Southampton.
Sarah Jones, the policing minister, spent the morning urging calm and describing the violence as unacceptable. She said there had been two arrests in connection with the disorder, one for assaulting a police officer and one for possession of a weapon. She also said the public should let justice run its course and avoid over-reacting, echoing the appeal made by Nowak’s family.
The policy dispute
The government is now backing a review of an official police anti-racism commitment. Jones said the language in the document was “wrong” and gave the wrong impression, while stressing that policing has a long history of racism that must be acknowledged and addressed. The National Police Chiefs’ Council is reviewing the text.
The dispute intensified after shadow home secretary Chris Philp attacked the document in the Commons, arguing that it was morally wrong and unfairly pushed forces to equalise arrest rates across ethnic groups. Jones declined to endorse claims of “two-tier policing” and rejected Nigel Farage’s argument that police do not treat white people fairly.
The live blog also sets out the day’s wider Westminster agenda, including PMQs, a debate on the Peter Mandelson files, evidence on extreme weather, and a speech by Rachel Reeves.
Key points
- Sarah Jones said the rioting in Southampton was unacceptable and appealed for calm.
- The government wants the National Police Chiefs’ Council to review an anti-racism police commitment.
- Jones said the document’s language was wrong and created the wrong impression.
- Chris Philp attacked the guidance in Parliament, while Jones rejected “two-tier policing” claims.
- The live blog says 11 officers and one police dog were injured during the Southampton protest.
If the review is handled carefully, it could clarify what police training should say about race without weakening efforts to tackle discrimination. A calmer response could also reduce tensions and help the legal process stay at the center of the case.
If the review becomes a political fight, it could deepen mistrust in policing and keep the “two-tier policing” debate alive. Continued unrest or more inflammatory language could further distract from the murder case and the family’s call for calm.
