Minister criticises anti-discrimination guidance to police amid Southampton protests

Sarah Jones says guidance that black and white suspects should be treated differently gives ‘wrong impression’

Anti-discrimination guidance to police that black and white suspects should be treated differently “gives the wrong impression”, according to the policing minister, who said protesters involved in overnight violence in Southampton should not be allowed to shape the reaction to the murder of Henry Nowak.

Two people were arrested after unrest in Southampton after the sentencing of the 18-year-old’s killer, Vickrum Digwa , who told police attending the scene of the stabbing in the city on 3 December 2025 that he had been the victim of a racist attack.

The far-right activist Tommy Robinson was among speakers to address a crowd outside Southampton central police station at the “Justice for Henry Nowak” protest. Nowak’s family were not involved and have said they do not want his death to be “used to inflame division or hostility”.

The policing minister, Sarah Jones, condemned the violence, but anti-discrimination and anti-racism training in police forces is now coming under pressure from Reform UK and the Conservatives.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced it would review the anti-racism guidance, which advises police to treat ethnic minorities differently to get them better outcomes, and which some have blamed for the actions of the officers who arrested Nowak.

Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, said in an interview on BBC Breakfast on Wednesday: “Our law enforcement and our criminal justice system are being corrupted by political correctness and leftwing ideology.”

Jones rejected Timothy’s comments, though she endorsed the NPCC’s review of its guidance and said the government did not believe the language was right.