Shabana Mahmood condemned “disgraceful” scenes of violence after riot police were pelted with bottles and bricks during a protest near the home of Henry Nowak’s killer in Southampton.
The Home Secretary said that violence directed towards officers was “completely unacceptable” after clashes in the St Denys area on Tuesday evening.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years on Monday for murdering the 18-year-old.
Footage shows that Mr Nowak was handcuffed while he lay dying after Digwa told officers he had racially abused him. He is heard saying: “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
open image in galleryFar right activist Tommy Robinson joined hundreds of people at a protest outside Southampton Central Police Station, where crowds chanted the last words of Mr Nowak “I can’t breathe” and carried placards reading “safety is a right not a privilege”.
A minute’s silence was held for Mr Nowak followed by applause, before the protesters marched to Portswood police station, in St Denys, where they were met by officers in riot gear.
A group of young men invaded the garden area of a building in Belmont Road, where Mr Nowak was murdered.
Videos shared on social media showed officers being pelted with stones and bricks on a residential street before they charged in an attempt to push the crowd back.
open image in galleryDemonstrators chanted “Henry, Henry” as they threw bricks, forcing police officers to retreat a second time.
Addressing the violence, Ms Mahmood said: “The scenes this evening in Portswood are completely unacceptable.
“The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension.
“There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.
“I thank the police who have tonight shown great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them.”
open image in galleryPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he “felt sick” watching bodycam footage shared by police and that a full investigation was needed into how “accusations of racism” informed the police’s decision-making.
“I have to say, as a father of a 17-year-old boy, I felt sick watching it,” he told broadcasters on Tuesday.
The police watchdog is expected to report on the case within the next three months.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said investigators are examining a large amount of body-worn video as well as material presented during Digwa’s trial.
Hampshire Police confirmed that one of the officers involved in the case has resigned, while the other three are still serving. All of them are being treated as witnesses.
Earlier on Tuesday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage likened Nowak’s treatment to the killing of George Floyd and said it was evidence of a “two-tier culture”.
open image in galleryIn a video statement on Tuesday, the Reform UK leader called for recognition that “white lives matter” as he referred to the Black Lives Matter movement that emerged following the murder of George Floyd in 2020.
Mr Farage said Nowak was “actually treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder”.
Ms Mahmood said that Mr Farage’s “inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse”.
Leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch told ITV’s Good Morning Britain that Mr Farage was “taking sides” and accused him of “whipping people up”.