Downing Street has rejected the Trump administration's criticism of alleged 'two-tier policing' in the UK, following a US State Department post offering condolences to the family of murdered teenager Henry Nowak. The Prime Minister's official spokesperson said the government did not recognise the State Department's position, echoing comments from Justice Secretary David Lammy that it did not align with his experience.
The Liberal Democrats have called for the US ambassador to be summoned over what they described as 'flagrant foreign interference that seeks to fan the flames of division'. However, No 10 insisted the UK-US relationship remained 'incredibly strong' and declined to say whether the US would be rebuked in diplomatic conversations.
The State Department's post on X stated: 'Ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilisational decline. They must be rejected across the West.' The post came after weeks of online claims by Elon Musk and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that Nowak's murder was evidence of bias against white people.
Nowak, 18, was handcuffed by Hampshire police as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, falsely accused him of racist abuse. Digwa was convicted of murder and jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years. The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, is investigating the officers' actions.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Nowak's family on Thursday, saying he was 'profoundly humbled' and promised to take 'whatever action is required to right the wrongs'. Eleven police officers and one police dog were injured on Tuesday night during a protest in Southampton linked to Nowak's death, which involved far-right agitators.
