Claim 008822e4Checked 21 Jul 2026
Partly True/FalseOn the truth scale
“The instructions given to police officers by police bosses are written down in ink.”
Interpreted asidiom
“The instructions are formally documented.”
—Nigel FarageReform UKReform / Clacton·Engagements·03 Jun 2026Factual · official legal institutional
Reasoning & Evidence21 Jul 2026
A written NPCC document does contain language stating that policing should not treat everyone "the same" and should respond to different ethnic groups according to their "specific needs," which supports the claim that such guidance exists in writing. However, the claim that these are formal instructions to police officers is contradicted by the NPCC's own characterization of the document as aspirational values rather than policy or training, a position echoed by government ministers.
Sources:
- NPCC, "Police Anti-Racism Commitment" (PDF): https://www.npcc.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/our-work/race-action-plan/police-anti-racism-commitment.pdf
- NPCC, "Police Anti-Racism Commitment" (webpage): https://www.npcc.police.uk/our-work/police-race-action-plan/police-anti-racism-commitment/
- The Independent, "Minister admits police anti-racism guidance is 'wrong'": https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/henry-nowak-police-antiracism-sarah-jones-b2988614.html
- The Telegraph, "'Two-tier' police chiefs say ethnic minorities can be treated differently": https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/31/two-tier-police-ethnic-minority-treat-differently-philp-uk/
- GB News, "Henry Nowak murder: Police chiefs launch urgent review into 'two-tier' guidelines": https://www.gbnews.com/news/henry-nowak-police-chief-review-two-tier-guidelines-murder
- BBC News, "'It's not a secret - it's maths': The truth behind 'two-tier policing'": https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjkl8wk1l4o
From speech
Following the horrendous circumstances of Henry Nowak’s death, I urge the Prime Minister to consider this: it is now clear to growing millions in this country that we are living under two-tier policing. The instructions that are given to police officers from police bosses are clear and written down in ink: “You must treat different ethnic groups in different ways.” Apart from the upset and the anger at the circumstances of Henry’s death, the anger that was seen spilling out in Southampton last night is in danger of getting considerably worse if the public lose trust that they will be treated fairly by the police. Will the Prime Minister take some action, end this divisive practice of two-tier policing, and make sure that all British citizens are treated the same?
Sources opened
| [1] | bbc.com |
| [2] | telegraph.co.uk |
| [3] | thetimes.com |
| [4] | thenationalnews.com |
| [5] | gbnews.com |
| [6] | bbc.co.uk |
| [7] | bbc.co.uk |
| [8] | independent.co.uk |
| [9] | telegraph.co.uk |
| [10] | en.wikipedia.org |
| [11] | independent.co.uk |
| [12] | uk.news.yahoo.com |
| [13] | express.co.uk |
| [14] | npcc.police.uk |
| [15] | npcc.police.uk |
| [16] | npcc.police.uk |
| [17] | npcc.police.uk |
| [18] | college.police.uk |