Nowak murder, protest shakes England: accusations against the police

The demonstrations, which were also attended by far-right groups and activists including Tommy Robinson, arose as a sign of protest against the handling of the case and against what some demonstrators called “two-speed policing”, chanting the slogan “White Lives Matter”. Vickrum Digwa, later accused of the murder, falsely claimed in front of the officers that he had been the victim of a racially motivated attack, while Nowak was immobilized by the officers despite being seriously injured.

The protest, initially peaceful, then degenerated with bottles, rockets and other objects being thrown at riot police. Jones condemned the incidents of violence as “completely unacceptable”, reiterating that the investigation into the case must clarify all responsibility and that “the equality of all citizens before the law” remains a fundamental principle of the British justice system.

At least 11 officers and a police dog were injured. Local police chief Constable Alexis Boon said some protest participants “arrived clearly intending to cause trouble”, reporting the throwing of bottles, the use of improvised objects such as weapons and damage to residents’ homes and vehicles. Authorities confirmed two arrests, warning that the number could increase, while Boon stressed that violence diverts resources from community safety interventions and called the incidents recorded during the protest “unacceptable”.

The Farage-Starmer clash

The case became the subject of the clash in the House of Commons between the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, who asked the government to intervene against double standards of law enforcement by the police: according to Farage, the police would receive indications to treat different ethnic groups differently.

The leader of Reform UK claims that this dynamic would have fueled “anger and tensions”. His words were met with criticism in the Chamberas the Guardian website highlights, with several MPs urging him to condemn the violence. Farage then insisted on the need to ensure that all British citizens are treated equally by the police.

In response, Starmer strongly rejected the ‘Mr Brexit’ approach, saying he did not believe the police applied different criteria depending on the ethnic origin of those involved and describing the way in which Farage had dealt with the matter as “shocking”.

The prime minister underlined that the victim’s family had explicitly asked not to use the tragedy to fuel divisions or political controversy, instead calling for respect and sobriety. “They lost their son in the most terrible circumstances and made a simple plea: don’t exploit the pain,” Starmer recalled. Then the lunge against Farage. While the government, the prime minister noted, focuses on the lessons to be learned to ensure justice, Farage would instead “choose to fuel anger”.

“Exploiting a tragedy to create resentment and division is wrong in any case, but to do so while the family specifically asks otherwise is unforgivable,” Starmer concluded, adding that this episode “says a lot about him.”