The recent criticisms directed at the Anti-Racism Commitment in policing are being viewed as more of a political stance than genuine scrutiny. Chris Philp, the Conservative Shadow Home Secretary, has raised concerns about what he perceives as a two-tier policing system endangering lives, citing Henry Nowak’s murder along with other serious incidents. Philp alleges that the Anti-Racism Commitment indicates that policing has been influenced by “extreme activists.”
Philp’s argument against the concept of “two-tier” policing hinges on treating any efforts to address racial disparities with suspicion. Moreover, Philp’s critique would have carried more weight had he actively participated in the program aimed at facilitating such discussions during his tenure as Policing Minister.
Over a five-year period, I chaired the Independent Scrutiny and Oversight Board, responsible for evaluating the Police Race Action Plan, a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing policing for Black individuals, particularly concerning the use of powers and force. For instance, statistics show that Black men are seven times more likely to die after being restrained by police; Black individuals are five times more likely to be subjected to the use of tasers; and Black children are eight times more likely to undergo strip searches.
Our board frequently criticized the Police Race Action Plan for its slow progress, lack of structure, inadequate measurement criteria, poor communication, and limited engagement. It is crucial that anti-racism efforts remain open to scrutiny. In contrast, Philp did not collaborate with the Race Action Plan team, engage with our board, or make an effort to comprehend and enhance the program.
The Police’s Anti-Racism Commitment, which Philp has targeted, was introduced in March 2025 with an endorsement from the Labour Policing Minister, Diana Johnson. Philp had the opportunity to address any genuine concerns during his tenure by requesting evidence, questioning the wording, and advocating for clearer guidelines. However, he did not take any such action.
The Commitment resulted from extensive collaboration between the Action Plan team, anti-racism experts, community representatives, policing organizations, and oversight bodies. Although not flawless in its wording, the Commitment seeks to address a fundamental question: How should policing tackle racial disparities without ignoring their existence?
Philp portrays the Commitment’s focus on racial equality as a call to treat individuals differently based on their skin color. However, the section he references actually urges the police to acknowledge diverse needs and experiences, including those influenced by race, to minimize harm and ensure equitable treatment.
If the police’s failures in the case of Henry Nowak are substantiated, they underscore the exact type of poor judgment that anti-racist policing aims to prevent. Anti-racism initiatives strive to make policing more evidence-based and transparent. For instance, the program contributed to the formulation of national guidelines regarding the use of body-worn cameras, with the majority of forces now recording both audio and video in their cameras’ pre-record function.
Various anti-racism groups and civil society organizations have long been challenging inadequate decisions, weak accountability, and the unequal distribution of state-inflicted harm, advocating for improved policing practices. For instance, INQUEST has been supporting bereaved families and advocating for reforms in areas such as restraint, healthcare, crisis response, and accountability following deaths in custody.
The objective of this work is to prevent harm, not condone it. Failing to investigate an unverified claim of racial abuse, neglecting to assess Henry’s medical requirements, or treating him as a suspect instead of providing protection does not align with anti-racist policing but rather reflects poor policing practices.
It is simpler to dismiss “so-called anti-racist campaigners” through rhetoric or parliamentary debates than to engage with grieving families, substantial evidence, and institutional harm. The former requires mere rhetoric, while the latter necessitates a serious approach.
Abandoning anti-racism commitments due to misinterpretation would be an inappropriate response to the tragedy involving Henry Nowak. The appropriate course of action would be to thoroughly investigate the police response, ascertain any failures, and ensure that officers are better equipped to assess evidence, risks, and vulnerabilities in future situations.
Individuals who opted not to engage seriously with this work when they had the opportunity to do so should exercise caution in positioning themselves as the strongest critics now. It is easy to be certain after the fact; real scrutiny demands a more rigorous approach.