Henry Nowak second thread, as requested.

[rolloverbeethoven]

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5536249-henry-nowak?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

It’s absolutely disgusting, they were planning to lie about a murder victim. How can anyone say there is no such thing as two tier policing and justice?

Hampshire police have an agenda. Who drives it is what people should know.

At the core of this is someone setting a narrative for whatever purpose. This is a deliberate action, not an accident. It is worse than the original mistake on arrest.

Who exactly put this idea forward? I hope that gets addressed pdq

All the approaches on race and policing come from government, trickled down from the Home Office and then down to police services. So, whilst Hampshire are the twits here, it will be going on elsewhere, albeit it with less tragic consequences. There is going to be a move to reduce the number of police forces from the 40 plus now to about 10 - they are going to be mega forces. Not sure if that will make things better or worse.

It’s from the top. Labour oversee the guidelines and politics of the police.

It’s also pervasive across non policing which is why similar happened with Southport and Manchester bombing. It’s systemic throughout, headed up by the current PM.

The police should not have politics. This statement was likely driven by a fairly senior person in Hampshire police. It is so far from what should have happened. That the CPS had to remind the police of the significant prejudice it would cause is a sign, to me at least, that this was a high level ask in the organization itself. They may have been motivated by guidance or something else. It needs addressing pdq.

I started watching Sunday with LauraK because I knew they'd be discussing this case. Then I saw Lammy was there, and then he started speaking, I switched off.

When you are younger you think that all those in authority are the right person doing the right things at the right time for the good of the country. I feel very unsettled because it is patently obvious that is no longer the case.

You could have a scenario where a law abiding tax paying person has a run in with someone who has just arrived in this country, the incident which could be totally trivial, like someone walking into someone, they say they have been racially abused and suddenly the law abiding person (who could be themselves from a BAME background) can find themselves in cuffs. In this social media age the Henry Nowak murder would have been seen around the world. The people traffickers and the men in boats will be using the magic word with full confidence that they will be believed. The police service is not good value for money and if they were rateable on Trust Pilot they would be on one star. We deserve better.

Labour introduced the do treat people differently depending on their colour / race guidelines in 2025.

The police race action plan instructs police to treat people differently. That was created in 2025.

It’s political, and from the top. That’s why Starmer and Lammy can’t admit there is even an issue.

I can understand why the parents of Henry met Starmer, but I wish they hadn’t, because you are right, they (gov and policy makers) are the most culpable out of all of the constituent parts. I got shot down a few days ago for saying that about the parents. I repeat what I said then, this is not me being against the parents, more that they are being used by Starmer, when it was his parties policies that caused their son to die disbelieved and in cuffs. Henry’s parents no doubt shook hands with Starmer, like the civilised people they show themselves to be, but they shook hands with someone who has their son’s blood on his hands.

If it is the guidelines then there needs to be an investigation. This would have come from the Home Office when Yvette Cooper was in charge.

If it is the case that this was done by government edict it will be clear. But the operational decisions to make or plan this statement will be within the police in Hampshire and or the local crime commissioner. That needs to be looked at for the start of proper accountability

I criticized you because you decided that your political views seemed to dictate what the family might do. They can make their own decisions.

What actually happened with this statement which is extremely political needs looking at.

If it is the case that there was top down pressure to put it out then someone needs to be accountable. The guideline needs to be withdrawn and reconsidered urgently.

It just gets more and more outrageous.

Funny how Lammy, Owen Jones, Sadiq joined in the cries for "fury" and "rage" after George Floyd but are now telling everyone not to be angry about Henry. OJ boasted about contributing to gofund me's to get rioters out of jail in the US, presumably so they could get out and riot some more. I don't approve of rioting by anyone. I do think the police are between a rock and a hard place. After years of undeniable racism and misogyny, the pendulum has swung too much the other way. I can understand how a rookie cop might not be able to handle these situations.

exactly!
we should be very angry and not let it drop!
It’s corrupt!

It is clear. The guidelines are due to Labour

The government introduced the Crime and Policing Bill in February 2025. While the Race Action Plan originated as an operational commitment by police chiefs, Labour’s 2025 actions shifted several of its core themes into formal government policy.

Police are now instructed to treat people differently.

That goes to far. This looks like institutional incompetence or someone interpreting these guidelines for the own advantage. That is part of the failure of the police, partly a failure of the government. Whether this guideline is needed is another matter - I expect Labour will defend the idea. Hard to do so, given the real impact it has had. The guideline should be withdrawn, and certainly all training ceased.

It should but as Starmer and Lammy have denied two tier policing, which the document instructs, someone else will probably have to get in and do that.

I am aware that they can do what they want, but they are being used by all people with a political agenda. I don’t have one, but Labour, Tories, Reform, Restore, Musk, Tommy R do. I can understand wanted to look Starmer in the eye but for Starmer this was done to dampen down criticism. I personally would have robbed him of the chance, but who knows, hopefully the Nowak’s made him reflect and squirm.

Not sure about everyone else, but this has played on my mind all week. It sends you to a dark place, all the polarisation on here and in the country at large. Imagine how the parents must feel, it’s a heavy and lifelong burden, anger and grief.

I am not going to read anymore about this case until the next legal steps. I have that luxury, Henry’s family don’t.

RIP Henry