Top Officer Rejects Two-Tier Policing Claims but Acknowledges Perception
Sir Stephen Watson, the chief constable of Greater Manchester police, has stated that British policing has "adopted the language of activism" and that official anti-racism guidance has "over-corrected" in addressing accusations of racism. In comments made to reporters in Stockport, Watson said he does not believe that "two-tier policing" exists or that forces are biased against white people, but he understands why the perception has taken hold.
Anti-Racism Guidance Under Review After Henry Nowak Murder
The murder of Henry Nowak prompted riots in Southampton and accusations of two-tier policing from figures including Nigel Farage and the Trump administration. In response, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) is reviewing its 2025 "anti-racism commitment," which advises officers to respond to individuals and communities according to their specific needs, with an understanding that these will be racialised. Watson said the guidance should be reviewed, noting that policing has "in some cases over-corrected" and allowed the impression that forces are not policing without fear or favour.
Police Should Not Use Language of Activism
Watson emphasised that forces should be "a little less timid about making sure we emphasise our impartiality." He stated that policing has "uncritically adopted certain elements of language" from activism and written them into policy, which then becomes proof for accusations of unequal treatment. "Of course we're fiercely opposed to racism but we're the police. We are not activists," he said. Watson previously instructed officers not to take the knee during Black Lives Matter protests in 2021, earning him the label of Britain's "anti-woke" police chief.
Policing Minister Calls Guidance Wrong
The policing minister, Sarah Jones, earlier this month acknowledged the history of racism in policing but called the NPCC guidance wrong. Watson's comments come as he is tipped as a potential successor to Sir Mark Rowley as head of the Metropolitan police.
Greater Manchester Police Performance
Watson was appointed chief constable in 2021 after the force was placed into special measures due to scandals where a fifth of crimes went unrecorded. Since then, arrests have more than doubled, and offences including theft, shoplifting, and criminal damage fell faster than the national average in 2025, according to official crime figures.
Warnings of Potential Summer Disorder
Watson warned that British policing faces its biggest challenge in nearly 40 years, with "distrust, disorder and division" more evident than at any time since the 1980s. He said widespread disorder could erupt again this summer, given the "temperature of contemporary events" and social media amplifying inflammatory rhetoric from high-profile figures. He stressed that police must not "do anything to fuel the fire."
