Avoid 'reactive' police reforms after Nowak murder, senior black officer warns

The head of the National Black Police Association has warned police forces are at risk of making "not well thought-out" changes to anti-racism guidance following the murder of Henry Nowak.

Andy George, a Police Service of Northern Ireland chief inspector, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that a move to re-draft an anti-racism commitment in light of the case was "reactive".

His comments came after former Home Secretary Jack Straw told the Telegraph there had been an "over-correction" within policing after the 1993 murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.

He said "much greater care" was needed with police race guidance, and claimed "vocal pressure groups" had exerted too much influence.

The murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak and subsequent police response have prompted accusations of so-called two-tier policing by some politicians.

Nowak was arrested by officers as he lay dying after his attacker, 23-year-old Sikh man Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed he had been racially abused by the student.

Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum 21-year term on Monday .

The Independent Office for Police Conduct's (IOPC) is investigating the response of officers.