Downing Street has rejected the Trump administration’s criticism of “two-tier policing” in the UK, following a US state department post that offered condolences to the family of murdered teenager Henry Nowak. A spokesperson said the government did not recognise the state department’s position, echoing comments from Justice Secretary David Lammy, who earlier stated it did not align with his experience.
The US state department posted on X that “ideological conditioning and two-tiered policing are glaring symptoms of civilisational decline” and must be rejected across the West. The post also expressed condolences to Nowak’s family and the British people. The 18-year-old student was handcuffed by Hampshire police as he lay dying from stab wounds after his killer falsely accused him of racist abuse.
The Liberal Democrats 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 declined to say whether the US would be rebuked in diplomatic conversations, insisting the bilateral relationship remained “incredibly strong”.
The murder has been seized upon by figures including Elon Musk and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as evidence of bias against white people, claims that critics say exploit the teenager’s death. Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Nowak’s family on Thursday and promised to take “whatever action is required to right the wrongs”. The police watchdog is investigating the officers who handcuffed Nowak.
