Keir Starmer faces questions after Henry Nowak case triggers violent clashes

Keir Starmer is facing questions after the Henry Nowak case triggered violent clashes in England.

Attacks directed towards police in Southampton near where Mr Nowak was stabbed to death were “disgraceful and completely unacceptable” and there is “no justification for more violence and disorder”, Sir Keir told MPs in the Commons.

Ministers have appealed for calm after violent clashes between protesters and police near where Henry Nowak was stabbed to death.

The unrest came amid an outcry about the policing response to the murder after the student’s killer claimed he had been the victim of a racial attack while Mr Nowak was handcuffed by police as he lay dying.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced it would review anti-racism guidance – which advises police to treat ethnic minorities differently to get them better outcomes – that some have blamed for the actions of the officers who arrested Mr Nowak.

Eleven officers and a police dog were injured during the violence in Southampton on Tuesday night.

Hampshire Police Chief Constable Alexis Boon said some people “clearly arrived intent on causing disorder and trouble” and “while we are forced to deal with those determined to spark fear and division, our finite resources are taken away from those who need it most”.

Policing minister Sarah Jones said she understood the anger the case had caused, but urged people not to “over-react”, saying Mr Nowak’s family did not want his murder to stir up hostility or division.

“We are urging that people take the anger that they feel, which I understand, but let’s allow justice to do its course, and let’s not over-react, which indeed is what the family are asking us to do as well,” she told Times Radio.

Ms Jones defended the police’s Race Action Plan, although ministers have acknowledged that wording in a police commitment document alongside it is “clumsy”.

She said “everyone must be equal under the law and we must ensure that is the case” but “we can’t shy away from what are historic and legitimate concerns about racism within police forces”.

NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said: “We are listening to legitimate concerns about how some of these commitments are worded or phrased, and where needed we can and will make changes, but this should not detract from the intent, which is to improve the quality of policing.”

The case has been seized on by politicians including Nigel Farage, political activist Tommy Robinson and tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said “pernicious identity politics” had seen the country “going backwards”.

In a Daily Mail article, she said there was a need to “sweep out a lot of the historic, incoherent nonsense that has been brought in under the guise of anti-racism”.

Mr Farage said Mr Nowak was “treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder” and said people should react with “pure cold rage”.

Two people were arrested for assaulting police and possession of a weapon after hundreds gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station on Tuesday where Tommy Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – and actor and campaigner Laurence Fox were among those who spoke to the crowd.

Hampshire Police said the number of arrests would increase as investigations continue into the disorder.

Violent scenes broke out after a large group walked across town to the area of Portswood.

Demonstrators chanted “Henry, Henry” as the line of police were pelted with bricks.

Chairs, cans and flares were thrown at police in riot gear, eventually forcing officers and three police vans back from the line they had been holding.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the scenes were “completely unacceptable” and accused the demonstrators of “hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder”.

Mr Nowak’s killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, told police attending the scene of the stabbing in Southampton on December 3 2025 that he had been the victim of a racist attack.

In body-worn camera footage from the incident, a handcuffed Mr Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”

Ms Mahmood said: “The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension.

“There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.

“I thank the police who have tonight shown great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them.”

Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Mr Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade prosecutors said was a kirpan, which he carried as part of his Sikh religion.

He had previously been investigated by police in 2023 on suspicion of stealing ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton but no further action was taken.

The police watchdog is expected to report on the case within the next three months.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said investigators are examining a large amount of body-worn video as well as material presented during Digwa’s trial.

Hampshire Police confirmed one of the officers involved in the case has resigned, while the other three are still serving.

All of them are being treated as witnesses.

Ms Jones would not reveal whether they are still serving in front-line roles.

“I know where the officers are in the sense of, of course, I’m talking to the police chief constable and the police and crime commissioner,” she told the BBC’s Today programme.

“The IOPC is doing an investigation. It wouldn’t be right for me to be publicly saying where they are or where they aren’t because of the risk.”