The Police Minister has accused an anti-racism pledge used by police forces across England and Wales of creating the wrong impression, just days after a national review was ordered following the brutal killing of 28-year-old Henry Nowak in Manchester last November.
Sarah Jones, whose portfolio includes policing standards, told this newspaper that the document—titled *Principles for Anti-Racism in Policing*—was "not fit for purpose" and risked undermining public trust by implying forces were institutionally racist without sufficient evidence.
📋 By The Numbers
- 43 — Number of police forces in England and Wales that adopted the guidance in 2023
- 3 — Months between adoption and Jones’ condemnation
- 28 — Age of Henry Nowak at the time of his murder
- 11 — Months since the murder when Jones made her statement
Jones’ intervention comes as police chiefs from Greater Manchester, West Midlands, and West Yorkshire forces confirmed they were re-examining the guidance, with some officers privately admitting it had become a political liability. The move follows a ruling last week by the Independent Office for Police Conduct that found procedural failures contributed to Nowak’s death.
| Force | Status of Review | Date Adopted |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Manchester Police | Full suspension pending reform | March 2023 |
| West Midlands Police | Partial review, key sections retained | June 2023 |
| West Yorkshire Police | Internal audit underway | January 2023 |
The anti-racism document, drafted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing, was intended to signal a commitment to racial equity after high-profile cases like the 2020 killing of George Floyd in the U.S. But Jones argued that by using phrases like "institutional racism," it had created a perception that officers were inherently biased—a claim she said damaged morale and recruitment.
Key Points
- ✅ Sarah Jones has publicly rejected the anti-racism guidance as misleading
- ⚡ The document was adopted by 43 forces in 2023 and is now under review
- 💡 The guidance’s use of "institutional racism" has sparked controversy among officers
In a closed-door meeting with senior officers last Thursday, Jones insisted that while racism in policing must be addressed, the language had to be precise and evidence-based. "We cannot allow terminology to erode the confidence of the communities we serve," she said. Meanwhile, shadow policing minister Rachel Reeves called the document a "well-intentioned but poorly executed policy."
💡 Pro Tip
Forces reviewing anti-racism policies should separate aspirational goals from legally actionable commitments to avoid unintended consequences.
The Home Office has now demanded that all forces submit revised versions of their anti-racism strategies by June 30, with a focus on measurable outcomes rather than rhetorical declarations. The move signals a broader shift in government policy, favoring practical reforms over symbolic gestures.
- June 30 — Deadline for forces to submit revised anti-racism strategies
- July 15 — Home Office expected to publish a national framework for anti-racism training
- September 1 — Deadline for forces to implement mandatory bias training updates
Critics of the original guidance argue that its vague language left officers uncertain about expectations, while supporters claim it was a necessary step toward accountability. The murder of Henry Nowak, a Polish immigrant found dead in a Manchester alley in November 2023, exposed systemic failures in hate crime investigations, adding urgency to the debate.
- 📊 62% of officers surveyed by a police staff association said the guidance created confusion over their duties
- 🔍 The IOPC’s ruling on procedural failures in Nowak’s case cited "inadequate response times" to hate crime reports
- ⚠️ Home Office officials warn that rushed revisions could lead to legal challenges from advocacy groups
As forces scramble to align with the new directive, some are turning to external consultants for help rewriting their policies—raising concerns about consistency and depth. Meanwhile, advocacy groups like StopWatch and the Monitoring Group have condemned the minister’s stance as a retreat from progress. "This is a dangerous distraction from the real work of dismantling institutional bias," said a spokesperson for the Monitoring Group.
