Police anti-racism document 'gives wrong impression', minister says

A police anti-racism commitment "gives the wrong impression", Police Minister Sarah Jones has said as forces' chiefs pledge to review the guidance in the wake of the murder of Henry Nowak.

Jones' comments came after bodycam footage shows officers handcuffing the 18-year-old student in Southampton last December as he said "I can't breathe" - after his attacker Vickrum Digwa lied by claiming he was a victim of a racist attack.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct's (IOPC) is reviewing a guidance document from the National Police Chiefs' Council which says its goal of "producing equality of policing outcomes... does not mean treating everyone 'the same' or being 'colour blind'...".

"This particular document is a sort of values document, it's quite a short document and I don't think it forms the basis of any training or any police activity," Jones told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.

She added: "It is an official NPCC document, yes, and it is being reviewed we think the language is wrong and it gives the wrong impression but I don't think it affects how our training is done.

"People are right to ask questions when they've seen such a horrific incident and we will be listening and learning the lessons and there is a history... of racism within policing that forms part of the policing picture when you are trained."

Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Nowak, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, as he walked back to his student accommodation.

Hundreds of people protesting over the way the Hampshire Police handled the case clashed with officers in Southampton on Tuesday evening, with Jones confirming two have been arrested.