Summary

  • Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemns "unacceptable" violence against officers at protests over the police handling of Henry Nowak's murder in Southampton

  • "There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder," she says, after protesters and riot police were seen clashing near the home of Nowak's killer

  • Two people have been arrested over the unrest, the policing minister tells BBC Breakfast, who urges people to not allow "this tragic case to lead to more hate and division"

  • It comes as police chiefs say they will review anti-racism guidance that suggests officers should treat ethnic minorities differently in order to ensure equality of outcomes

  • Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced on Monday to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for Nowak's murder in December

  • Speaking after the sentencing, Mark Nowak, Henry's father, said the family did not want his death "to be used to create further division, hatred or tension"

  • Bodycam footage shows the 18-year-old student, from Essex, being handcuffed and telling police "I can't breathe" after Digwa lied to officers at the scene of the stabbing, claiming he had been the victim of a racist attack

  • Keir Starmer says he "felt sick" watching the footage, adding "there are serious questions for the police to answer" - BBC Verify looks at the key moments

  1. IOPC, NPCC, PCC - what do these terms mean?published at 10:02 BST

    Malu Cursino
    Live reporter

    An NPCC logo

    To report on stories like this, we need to hear from different stakeholders and organisations - which often means a lot of acronyms.

    So, what do they all stand for?

    IOPC is the Independent Office for Police Conduct. It's the police complaints watchdog for England and Wales, working independently from the police.

    NPCC stands for the National Police Chiefs' Council. The NPCC is a UK-wide body that brings police leaders together to work collaboratively and improve policing for the public.

    PCC stands for police and crime commissioner. These are elected officials in England and Wales who make sure local police meet the needs of the community.

  2. When will we learn more about the IOPC investigation into the case?published at 09:49 BST

    Police must refer any deaths or serious injuries in custody to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will investigate if needed.

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Commons on Tuesday that the IOPC plans to report back within the next three months.

    "I know that it is difficult to wait any longer for answers but there is a proper process to assess whether there have been incidents of police misconduct," she said.

    "[The IOPC] will determine what could and should have been done differently," she continued, adding that it will also establish "what action may need to be taken against individual officers."

    IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said in a statement yesterday that the IOPC will meet Henry Nowak's family and update them about the investigation.

    Campbell also said the investigation will look at officers' use of handcuffs, the first aid given, police body-worn camera footage, and evidence shown during the murder trial.

  3. Sikh MP says community 'fearful of political climate engulfing us'published at 09:39 BST

    Tan Dhesi speaks on BBC Breakfast. He is wearing a purple turban and a matching purple tie with a suit. A BBC Breakfast backdrop with a picture of Westminster can be seen in the background

    The first ever turbaned Sikh MP says there’s "no excuse for the violent disorder or the rioting we have seen" after Henry Nowak’s death.

    Tan Dhesi, Labour MP for Slough, also thanks Nowak’s father Mark, who called for his son’s death not to "be used to create further division, hatred or tension".

    Dhesi tells BBC Breakfast the Sikh community has been left shamed and shocked by the murder.

    He adds that many Sikhs are now "fearful because of the political climate that has been engulfing us - especially on social media".

    Dhesi is also asked about the debate around the kirpan - a ceremonial sword or dagger carried by Sikhs - following Nowak’s murder.

    He points out that the kirpan is one of the five articles of faith in Sikhism, and that Nowak’s murder did not involve the ceremonial dagger.

  4. Police anti-racism document arrived after high-profile scandalspublished at 09:34 BST

    Sima Kotecha
    Senior UK correspondent

    More about the police anti-racism commitment document.

    The guidance, issued by police chiefs in England and Wales, came off the back of various high-profile scandals in policing including on an international level.

    There have been various reports surrounding WhatsApp messages in the UK - where officers have been found to have sent seriously offensive racist messages to one another.

    There has also been much focus on police tactics such as "stop and search" - with studies suggesting it's used disproportionately on black people in London.

    A senior serving police officer tells me: "A history of racism in policing is something we’ve had to look at and react to. But perhaps we’ve gone too far the other way? At the heart of what we do is treat everyone the same - and we need to make sure we’re doing that.”

  5. What's the police anti-racism guidance that is being criticised?published at 09:29 BST

    Cachella Smith
    Live reporter

    As we've been reporting, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said on Tuesday it would review the language used in a document outlining anti-racism commitments, after shadow home secretary Chris Philp raised concerns.

    Called the "Police Anti-Racism Commitment", the document sets out broad aims, including being "transparent" about police actions and making sure everyone in policing feels confident challenging racism.

    One part that has caused debate in the last 24 hours is a commitment to achieving equality of "policing outcomes". The document says: "It does not mean treating everyone ‘the same’ or being ‘colour blind’ (racial equality)," with the reason given below:

    Quote Message

    Producing equality of policing outcomes for people from different ethnic groups by responding to individuals and communities according to their specific needs, circumstances and experiences, with understanding that these will be racialised and with the aim of reducing harm.

    Police Anti-Racism Commitment

    The document comes from the Police Race Action Plan, launched in 2022. The plan said it followed policing's "difficult history in its relationships with Black communities" - referencing the murder of George Floyd and the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

    Policing Minister Sarah Jones called it a "values document" this morning, not a training document. The NPCC says it sets out the "overarching ambition of the plan for a police service that was anti-racist and trusted by Black people".

  6. Watch: Key moments of police bodycam footagepublished at 09:19 BST

    BBC Verify has analysed footage released by police showing the moments before Henry Nowak died.

    Nowak is handcuffed on the floor after telling police he has been stabbed.

    "I can't breathe," he says - repeating it at least seven times.

    A warning - this video contains distressing content.

  7. Reform's Jenrick says he wants 'police officers to treat everyone equally'published at 09:04 BST

    A headshot of Robert JenrickImage source, PA Media

    Reform UK's Robert Jenrick has called for a change in the way policing in the UK is conducted "for good".

    Speaking to Times Radio, Jenrick says the case "must be a turning point".

    He says Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is too "squeamish" about upsetting ethnic minorities to address the issue.

    "I just want police officers to treat everyone in this country equally," he says, and denies that he is "pitting white Britons against ethnic minority Britons".

    On Tuesday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage suggested people should respond to Henry Nowak's case with "pure cold rage". He said "a false accusation of racism counted higher at that moment than somebody that was dying" after the 18-year-old was handcuffed by police.

  8. Policing minister on Nowak murder and protest in Southampton - a recappublished at 08:56 BST

    Sarah Jones

    Here are the key points from policing minister Sarah Jones when she spoke to the BBC this morning:

    • Two people were arrestedover the disorder in Southampton last night, with Jones calling the violence towards police "completely awful"
    • Police are assessing drone footage to see if more arrests will be made
    • Jones urged that Nowak's death should not "lead to more hate and division"
    • Asked if there is a two-tier policing system, Jones told the BBC that "in the majority of cases, police are doing the right thing", but added "we see examples of people making the wrong call in different ways"
    • She said it is right that the National Police Chiefs' Council is reviewing the anti-racism guidance, saying "this document feels like it's not right"
  9. 'We have such a hard job' - mood among police officers downbeatpublished at 08:46 BST

    Sima Kotecha
    Senior UK correspondent

    I’ve spoken to a few serving police officers from various forces in England since the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa on Monday.

    The mood among them is downbeat.

    One said: “We’ve had several reports about how racist we are in the last few years when it comes to people, black people and Asian people, and so we’re very cautious when handling cases involving different races. Maybe we’re too cautious now.”

    Another told me: “We have such a hard job and we’re always scrutinised. But we need to get it right. I just wish people got the pressure we’re under because of the accusations we’re racist by those who’ve done reports.”

    Others echoed these sentiments.

    These are just opinions from a few officers and by no means reflect what most policemen and women think.

    But the views do give us some insight into the pressure officers face over race relations off the back of various damning reports in recent years.

    For example the Dame Louise Casey report into the Metropolitan Police concluded the force was institutionally racist - words that reverberated across UK policing.

    West Yorkshire Police has also faced some scrutiny. Since 2022, nine staff members have been to a misconduct hearing for racial discrimination. Of those, eight staff members were dismissed without notice and one case was not proved.

    These details are damaging - and I’m told - have a lasting impact on the psyche of police officers.

  10. 'In the majority of cases, the police are doing the right thing' - ministerpublished at 08:35 BST

    Sarah Jones is asked if she can confidently say there is no two-tier policing in this country.

    She stresses that everyone is equal under the law.

    "In the majority of cases, the police are doing the right thing," she says.

    Asked again if she agrees there are examples of two-tier policing, Jones says "we see examples of people making the wrong call in different ways".

    "In the main, that is not what we see. To push a certain sort of agenda in this case is not helpful. We have to wait and see what the [Independent Office for Police Conduct] IOPC says."

  11. Police anti-racism document needs change, says police ministerpublished at 08:26 BST

    After her appearance on BBC Breakfast, Policing Minister Sarah Jones is now speaking to Radio 4's Today programme.

    Asked whether policing in the UK is getting it right on racism, Jones stresses that the foundation for the police is that "everybody is equal under the law".

    On the police anti-racism commitment, which the National Police Chiefs' Council has said it will review, Jones says she thinks the language in the document is "wrong".

    Asked directly whether it needs to change, and quickly, she says "yes".

  12. 'Right' that police chiefs are reviewing anti-racism guidance, says ministerpublished at 08:03 BST

    Asked about the anti-racism guidelines, Sarah Jones says it is "right" that the National Police Chiefs' Council is reviewing them.

    She adds it is "important" to say there has been a long history of racism in policing that needs to be acknowledged and make sure that it no longer exists.

    "This document feels like it's not right," she says - later adding it's a "values document" rather than a training document.

    She continues to say that officers are trained to run into danger and that their first duty is to protect life and treat everyone equally under the law.

    "Anybody looking at that footage would question whether that was the right thing to do," she says as she underlines the IOPC investigation is being conducted.

    She adds there is a "huge piece" of police reform ongoing currently and that this incident will form "quite an important part of how we think about that police reform going forward".

  13. Policing minister: Questions to answer over Nowak's final momentspublished at 07:55 BST

    Policing Minister Sarah Jones echoes comments from PM Keir Starmer, saying police have "very serious questions to answer" over Henry Nowak's final moments.

    She says that those who have seen the bodycam footage and heard the 999 call "have seen the disparity there and the way that Henry was treated in those last moments of his life".

    "We don't have the full and complete picture," she says, adding "we need to get to the bottom of that".

  14. Don't let this case lead to more hate and division - Jonespublished at 07:50 BST

    Policing minister Sarah Jones appears on BBC Breakfast. A picture of Westminster and BBC Breakfast branding can be seen behind her

    Sarah Jones urges people to allow justice to take its course and "not allow this horrific, tragic case to lead to more hate and division".

    She adds that she knows people's emotions will be running high and that an investigation is ongoing into what happened in the last minutes of Henry Nowak's life.

    Asked what her message to protesters is, she says the violence towards police was "completely awful" yesterday evening.

  15. Two people arrested over Southampton disorder, policing minister sayspublished at 07:41 BST
    Breaking

    Minister for Policing and Crime Sarah Jones tells BBC Breakfast that two arrests have been made relating to the violence and disorder that occurred during protests in Southampton last night.

    "One [arrest] as I understand it for assaulting a police officer and one is for possession of a weapon," she says, calling the scenes "unacceptable".

    Jones adds that police will be looking through drone footage and other footage to see if they need to make more arrests.

    As a reminder, protesters and riot police were seen clashing near the home of Henry Nowak's killer after hundreds gathered to demonstrate in the city.

  16. Watch live as policing minister speaks to BBC Breakfastpublished at 07:27 BST

    Sarah Jones, the policing minister, is about to speak to BBC Breakfast following demonstrations in Southampton yesterday evening.

    Watch live at the top of the page, and follow along as we bring you the key lines.

  17. Shadow justice secretary says 'nothing justifies public disorder' after protestspublished at 07:22 BST

    Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy speaks to BBC Breakfast. An image of Westminster can be seen behind the politician

    Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy has said that "nothing justifies public disorder" following protests in Southampton last night.

    He tells BBC Breakfast that he is not going to commentate further on the protests but that Nowak's death shows "that our law enforcement and criminal justice system are being corrupted by political correctness and left-wing ideology".

    "We need to restore this idea that we used to take for granted, which is that we are all equal before the law," he tells the programme.

    Asked about whether there should be a debate around carrying religious knives, Timothy says there should be a conversation about what exemptions mean in practice.

    For context: The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 protects the right of Sikhs to possess and supply kirpans - a ceremonial sword or dagger that is one of religion's five articles of faith.

  18. Protests descend into violence after release of bodycam footage sparks outragepublished at 06:59 BST

    Police officers in helmets and holding riot shields among red smokeImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Police responding during protests in Southampton on Tuesday evening

    The release of police bodycam footage showing the moments 18-year-old Henry Nowak was handcuffed as he struggled to breathe after being stabbed has sparked outrage among politicians and the public.

    Several hundred protesters gathered outside Southampton Central police station on Tuesday evening, however there were later clashes between demonstrators and riot police, which saw officers pelted with missiles.

    Here's a quick reminder of how events have unfolded:

  19. Watch: Protesters and riot police clash near home of Nowak's killerpublished at 06:51 BST

    On Tuesday evening, riot police clashed with protesters who had gathered in Southampton over the police handling of the murder of Henry Nowak.

    Nowak, 18, was stabbed as he walked back to his student accommodation in Southampton in December last year.

    Hundreds of people took part in a demonstration outside Southampton Central Police Station before gathering close to the family home of Vickrum Digwa.

    The BBC's Peter Cooke, who was at the protest, says items including bins, bricks and an e-scooter were thrown at police.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Protesters and riot police clash near home of Nowak's killer

  20. Badenoch wants Labour to take Nowak murder as seriously as George Floydpublished at 06:40 BST

    Kemi Badenoch looks up to her right as while weraing a raincoat over her suitImage source, PA Media

    Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for the Labour Party to respond to Henry Nowak's death as seriously as they responded to the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by police in the US in 2020.

    A police officer was filmed kneeling on Floyd's neck during his arrest.

    Badenoch told BBC Newsnight on Tuesday that when Keir Starmer was leader of the opposition he took the knee, a symbolic gesture against racism, following Floyd's death.

    "They were taking the knee for something that happened in another country", she said.

    "I want them to take as seriously what is happening in this country, what they did with George Floyd."