STORY
Downing Street has rejected a US State Department suggestion that the UK has a problem with two-tier policing following the Henry Nowak case. The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the Government rejected the allegation, while stressing that the UK-US relationship remained strong.
The comments followed criticism from senior American figures about the police handling of Nowak after he was stabbed. Ministers have said mistakes can occur in public services, but that the proper response is investigation, accountability and reform rather than sweeping claims about the entire policing system.
The issue has become politically charged because it is being used by Reform UK, Conservative figures and international right-wing commentators to argue that police treat people differently because of race. The Government is trying to hold the line between acknowledging serious failings and rejecting broader claims of systemic anti-white bias.