Minister Calls 'Two-Tier Justice' Claim a 'Slur' on Police After Nowak Tragedy

A senior government minister has strongly refuted allegations of "two-tier justice" within the UK's police force, calling such claims a "slur" on the integrity of officers. The remarks came in the wake of the tragic death of Henry Nowak and the subsequent discussions surrounding policing and race equality. Lucy Rigby, the chief secretary to the Treasury, stated that the suggestion of systemic bias in policing is an insult to the thousands of officers who work daily to protect the public.

Rigby emphasized that the police are dedicated to serving the community and preventing crime, asserting that the idea of a two-tier system, where officers systematically favor one group over another, is fundamentally untrue. This government stance aligns with that of opposition leader Keir Starmer, who also stated he does not accept that Britain operates with two-tier policing.

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Fundamentally, I think that is a slur on the thousands of police officers that go out to work every day, putting themselves in harm’s way to serve the public, to try and prevent crime, and to keep us all safe.

The political landscape is also marked by upcoming events, including Andy Burnham's participation in a BBC byelection Question Times special, where he is expected to offer a more considered response to the Nowak case. The day's agenda also includes parliamentary sessions, ministerial visits, and departmental publications, indicating a busy period for UK politics.

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The suggestion that we have two-tier policing, which suggests at its heart that the police are on a sort of systemic basis pushing the interests of one group above another – I genuinely think is a slur on all those police officers that are serving this country day and night, seven days a week.