Nigel Farage and Sir Keir Starmer were engaged in heated exchanges on alleged “two-tier policing” in a growing storm over the murder of student Henry Nowak.
The Reform UK leader warned that angry protests could escalate if action is not taken to address the issue.
“It is now clear to growing millions in this country that we're living under two-tier policing.” Mr Farage said at Prime Minister’s Questions.
“The instructions that are given to police officers from police bosses are clear and written down in ink.
“It says you must treat different ethnic groups in different ways.”
He also stressed that anger which erupted at a protest in Southampton over Mr Nowak’s killing could grow.
To shouts from MPs to condemn the violence, Mr Farage urged the PM to act to “end this divisive practice of two-tier policing” and to make sure that all British citizens are treated the same.
However, Sir Keir denied there was “two-tier” policing in Britain and launched withering criticism of the Reform leader after Mr Nowak’s family had appealed for his death not to be used to sow division.
“I'm really shocked that he pretends to have respect for Henry's family, and then acts in this way,” said Sir Keir.
“They have lost their son in the most appalling circumstances.
“They have made a simple plea of us as human beings to please not exploit that.
“His response has been to appeal for rage. That's his response to a father who's lost his son, and ask for that not to happen.
“Exploiting this tragedy to create grievance and division would be wrong in any circumstances, but to do it when the family are expressly saying please don't is unforgivable.”
The Prime Minister said that protestors who attacked the police at the demonstration would face the “full force of the law”.
He also stressed that police officers had “serious questions” to answer over their response in the case including how it was informed by accusations of racism.
Protesters hurled wheelie bins, chairs and bricks at police on Tuesday as the protest over the murder of Mr Nowak descended into violence.
Hundreds gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station where activist Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox were among those who spoke to the crowd.
Violent scenes broke out after a large group walked across town to the area of Portswood, with police confirming that two arrests were made.
A police helicopter hovered overhead as officers were pelted with stones.
Demonstrators chanted “Henry, Henry” as the line of police were pelted with bricks.
Wheelie bins, chairs, cans, flares were thrown at police in riot gear, eventually forcing officers and three police vans back from the line they had been holding.
The killer of finance student Mr Nowak, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, told police attending the scene of the stabbing in Southampton on December 3 2025 that he had been the victim of a racist attack.
In body-worn camera footage from the incident, Mr Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed”, to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
The student repeatedly told police “I can’t breathe” as he lay dying, the footage showed.
Those words were chanted by protesters on Tuesday night as hundreds took to the streets in Southampton.
In an update on Wednesday morning, Hampshire Police said 11 officers and one police dog were injured in the violence.
Hampshire Police chief constable Alexis Boon said: “We understand and appreciate as police officers that we are accountable for our actions. What we ask, however, is that those actions are judged through fair and transparent processes. In this case, that process is already under way with the IOPC conducting their independent investigation.
“What we, as a society, cannot accept is the violent scenes we saw in Southampton last night.
“Some clearly arrived intent on causing disorder and trouble. We saw bottles thrown, makeshift weapons used, damage caused to the homes and vehicles of innocent residents, and threats and violence directed towards our officers.”
Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Mr Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade prosecutors said was a kirpan, which he carried as part of his Sikh religion.
He had previously been investigated by police in 2023 on suspicion of stealing ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton but no further action was taken.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) announced it would review anti-racism guidance – called the Race Action Plan – that some have blamed for the actions of the officers who arrested Mr Nowak.
NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said: “We are listening to legitimate concerns about how some of these commitments are worded or phrased, and where needed we can and will make changes, but this should not detract from the intent, which is to improve the quality of policing.”
Earlier on Tuesday Hampshire Police said an officer not connected to the case has faced death threats after being misidentified in online posts.
In a post on X, the force said: “We recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night” and warned people not to indulge in “harmful online speculation”.
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.
Mr Nowak’s father Mark Nowak, speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.”
But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said people should respond with “pure cold rage” to Mr Nowak’s treatment, which he said was evidence of a “two-tier culture”.
Mr Nowak was “actually treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder”, Mr Farage said.
In other developments:
– Attorney General Lord Hermer has received “multiple requests” to consider whether Digwa’s sentence should be reviewed as unduly lenient.
– Digwa, his father Moga Singh, 52, and brother Gurpreet Digwa, 27, appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court to face multiple weapons charges.
– A statement issued by the killer’s family apologised “for the pain and suffering the Nowak family has had to endure”, and for bringing the Sikh community into “disrepute”.
