Photo: Alamy
The case of Henry Nowak’s murder has led to protests and violent clashes in the United Kingdom due to frustrations with racially sensitive policing methods.
18-year-old Nowak was stabbed last December by Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old minority Sikh man. Digwa lied to the police at the crime scene and claimed that he was a victim of a racist attack, per BBC News. Nowak repeatedly stated that he had been stabbed and that he couldn’t breathe, but the responding officers didn’t take his pleas for help seriously.
According to the New York Post, Nowak’s murderer was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, but protests opposing racially based policing have continued over the incident and led to clashes with police.
🚨 CHAOS ERUPTS ON BRITAIN'S STREETS
— Jim Ferguson (@JimFergusonUK) June 3, 2026
Shocking footage shows crowds confronting police and hurling bins during disorder that erupted following outrage over the killing of Henry Nowak.
Public anger is growing, tensions are rising, and questions are being asked about policing,… pic.twitter.com/ukFkjHz815
The UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council currently follows an Anti-Racism Commitment, originally instituted to provide greater representation in policing for the black community. This was expanded to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion in policing. Critics say it has created a two-tier system of justice where white people are considered criminals.
xLike everyone, I was shocked by police letting Henry Nowak die because they heard "racism", but not surprised.
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) June 3, 2026
I grew up watching two tier policing in action.
And it's all on their website.
The whole system is set against white people.
And it must be smashed! pic.twitter.com/T3OoJJZeGV
Free Speech journalist and documentary filmmaker Tommy Robinson has been outspoken about the growing divide between equal policing in the UK. Wednesday morning, he posted a video to X, stating, “Like everyone, I was shocked by police letting Henry Nowak die because they heard ‘racism’, but not surprised. I grew up watching two tier policing in action. And it’s all on their website. The whole system is set against white people. And it must be smashed!”
According to Statista, “The number of recorded violent crime offences in England and Wales has increased considerably in the last decade.” But while these crimes continue, policing in the UK has shifted to focus on cracking down on speech-related crimes, which include social media posts.
QB News reported that over 16,000 Britons were arrested for speech-related crimes between 2024 and 2025. According to the UK Equality and Human Rights Equality and Human Right Commission, significant actions were taken in 2025 to “Do more to combat racist hate speech and xenophobia on the internet and social media.”
These policies are now being blamed for the death of Nowak. According to GB News, a top officer at the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary apologized and blamed the false claim of racism for the situation. One officer involved in the case has stepped down, but three others remain active and are being used as witnesses.