Jones endorses police guidance review as Southampton unrest fuels political pressure
Sarah Jones says guidance suggesting differential treatment of suspects gives the ‘wrong impression’, while Reform UK and Conservatives push for an equal treatment act following Henry Nowak’s sentencing.
Policing minister Sarah Jones has formally endorsed a review of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) anti-discrimination guidance, stating that current advice to treat black and white suspects differently gives the ‘wrong impression’. The intervention comes in the wake of overnight violence in Southampton following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, the killer of 18-year-old Henry Nowak. While Jones condemned the unrest, she affirmed that everyone must be equal under the law, even as political pressure mounts to dismantle existing diversity practices within police forces.
Two individuals were arrested in connection with the Southampton violence: one for assaulting a police officer and another for possession of a weapon. The unrest occurred after Digwa was sentenced for the stabbing of Nowak, who had told responding officers he was the victim of a racist attack. Far-right activist Tommy Robinson addressed a crowd at a “Justice for Henry Nowak” protest outside Southampton central police station, though Nowak’s family has stated they do not wish for his death to be used to inflame division or hostility.
Jones told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that while she does not believe the language in the guidance affects actual police training, the public is right to question it following the “horrific incident”. Speaking on Times Radio, she added that the government cannot shy away from historic and legitimate concerns regarding racism within police institutions, but insisted that the current phrasing of the NPCC’s anti-racism commitment is inappropriate. The NPCC document currently states that equality of outcomes may require responding to communities according to their specific needs, rather than treating everyone identically.
The incident has intensified demands from Reform UK and the Conservative Party to roll back race action plans and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices. Reform UK home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf claimed that Nowak’s death was a “direct result” of initiatives such as the Hampshire and Isle of Wight police race action plan. Shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy described the criminal justice system as being “corrupted by political correctness and leftwing ideology” on BBC Breakfast, a view Jones rejected despite supporting the guidance review.
Reform UK has released a policy document pledging to enact an “equal treatment act” within the first 100 days of entering government. This legislation would prohibit police race action plans, eliminate diversity practices, and end the exemption allowing Sikhs to carry large bladed knives. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has also called for the removal of “pernicious identity politics”, arguing in the Daily Mail that the country must sweep out “incoherent nonsense” under the guise of anti-racism. NPCC chair Gavin Stephens said the council is listening to concerns about how commitments are worded and will make changes where needed, stressing this should not detract from the intent to improve policing quality.