Tory leader pledges to create ‘positive legacy’ for murdered student after meeting his family
The family of murdered student Henry Nowak want to see “common-sense” policing where everyone is treated equally under the law, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Conservative leader met Mark Nowak and Lucy Ross, as well as the teenager’s stepmother, Katie Woodcock, on Thursday and pledged she would create a “positive legacy” for the Southampton University student.
The private meeting came as politicians continued to trade blows about “two-tier” policing in Britain and the 18-year-old’s treatment by officers at the scene of his murder.
The family were also due to meet Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, in Downing Street on Thursday.
After meeting the family, Mrs Badenoch said: “Everyone knows I have strong views about how we should deal with equality under the law. What the family agreeMr Nowak was arrested and handcuffed as he lay dying while his Sikh killer, Vickrum Digwa, who had stabbed him five times, was treated as a victim by officers. Digwa had falsely claimed he had been subjected to racial abuse.
Speaking after his son’s killer was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder in December 2025, Mr Nowak appealed for calm on the court steps and said the family wanted his “heartbreaking story to make change for the better”.
He said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to make our streets safer for everyone.”d with me on is that we need to bring common sense back, and that is what we should all be fighting for.”
Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Badenoch said the family felt trust in police had been broken.
She said they wanted political parties and religions to work together to rebuild trust in the police.
Posting online, Mrs Badenoch said: “Their courage is extraordinary. They have endured the most appalling loss, it is a life sentence for them.
“They have also faced the agonising decision to release the harrowing body-worn camera footage, knowing how painful it would be and how strongly people would react. They did so because they want truth, accountability and change.
“They have asked that we work across political parties and religions to rebuild trust in the police. That trust has been broken because of what happened, and I agree with them on that.”
She added: “Henry’s family do not want anger to tear communities apart. They are a family who have friends across faith and race, and so did Henry. His family want his memory to help bring our society together.
“I promised the family that we will work to ensure there is a positive legacy for Henry out of this tragedy. That is my focus now.”
Mrs Badenoch also called for a review of the exemption that allows Sikhs to carry ceremonial knives for religious reasons.
At the time of Mr Nowak’s murder, Digwa was carrying two traditional knives – a small kirpan around his neck and the longer 21cm one he used to stab the teenager.
The murder led to riots in Southampton on Tuesday night and a political row over claims of two-tier policing in Britain.
Nigel Farage was accused by Sir Keir in the Commons on Wednesday of “exploiting this tragedy to create grievance and division” after the Reform leader posted a video saying the right response to the killing was “pure cold rage”.
On Tuesday night, rioters in Southampton attacked police with bottles, bricks and wheelie bins.
Sir Keir told MPs on Wednesday: “A grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way that the leader of Reform has responded.
“My response – and the response of others, to be fair – has focused on the lessons to be learnt, so we can deliver justice.
“His response has been to appeal for rage. Rage – that’s his response to a father who’s lost his son and asked for that not to happen.”
Asked about his use of that language, Mr Farage told Times Radio: “Was I angry watching what had happened? Yeah, I bet you were too. Millions of us were.
“In fact, it’s hard to be a human being and not be angry watching it. But I suggested that rage was put in a cold way, not a hot way.”
Mr Farage went on to warn that the “division will get worse” if young white men felt the police were prejudiced against them, adding: “This has to end.”
Comments
Post a Comment