The controversial police handling of the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa has sparked a significant row, with critics on the right suggesting that a preoccupation with anti-racism contributed to officers' failure to properly assess the situation, leading to Nowak's appalling treatment as he lay dying. This criticism has particularly focused on a document released last year by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), titled the police anti-racism commitment, and a broader perception that police instincts now lean against white people in doubtful situations. However, an analysis of available evidence and interviews with policing experts indicate that this account overlooks critical factors in the devastating series of failures.

The police anti-racism commitment, part of the wider police race action plan, is not widely known, even among those closely involved in its creation. It aims to summarize actions police chiefs will take to eradicate racial bias. The most contentious part of the document states: “It does not mean treating everyone ‘the same’ or being ‘colour blind’ (racial equality).” The home secretary has described this phrasing as “clumsy.” According to sources knowledgeable about police thinking, the statement's intended meaning is to encourage officers to consider the historical context and experiences of different groups when policing. For instance, a Jewish person might need reassurance that a claim of criminal damage, potentially motivated by hate, is taken seriously, while a black person might require specific reassurance that a stop and search is legitimate and not racially motivated. While ministers acknowledge the document was not distributed to officers as a directive, they concede it conveys a misleading impression. Policing Minister Sarah Jones stated that she doesn't believe it forms the basis of training or police activity, despite the problematic language. The NPCC clarified that the document is not formal policy or training, with one source suggesting few officers, even senior ones, would be aware of its existence or be guided by it.

Regarding policies on racially motivated incidents, police are expected to take claims of racial motivation seriously. However, Neil Basu, Britain’s former head of counter-terrorism and the country's most senior ethnic minority officer, emphasized that this differs from automatically accepting an alleged crime as hate-motivated. He clarified: “When a victim says something you take it seriously, but that is different to believing it. The policy is supposed to stop police officers ignoring victims without investigating.” This policy originated from the 1999 Macpherson report, following the murder of Stephen Lawrence, intended to improve the recording and investigation of hate crimes.

Claims of