The fatal stabbing of a British teenager who was handcuffed by police while his killer stood nearby has led to protests in the city of Southampton while the UK grapples with a broader debate about policing, race and knife crime.
The killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in December drew renewed attention after the killer was sentenced to life with a minimum of 21 years in prison on Monday, and following the release of a video showing police dismissing Nowak when he said that he had been stabbed.
The killer, Vickrum Digwa, 23, who is Sikh, had reported to police that he was the victim of a racist attack by Nowak, who was white.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was sickened by the video and said there were questions to be answered about how “accusations of racism informed the decision-making in this case”.
Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, said in response that it was an example of so-called ‘two-tier policing’ — a popular far-right talking point that suggests ethnic minorities are better treated than white people.
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