Murder of Henry Nowak

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon Excerpts

Wednesday 3rd June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

That is an important point, and I know that the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Government will reflect on the issues of training. However, the police still have a sacred duty to police without fear or favour. Everyone in this country is equal before the law, and that is the promise on which our justice system rests. The equality of the citizen is the foundation of our policing, and we will look at the lessons to be learned. That is not an empty phrase, as the noble Baroness, Lady Fox, believes it to be; it is a real commitment to examine with the police what has happened and ensure that, when we know the facts from the IOPC, we learn what needs to be remedied, if anything, as a result.

[Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon (Lab)]

My Lords, I am speaking here in a personal capacity. My condolences go out to Henry Nowak’s family, because what happened to him should never have happened, and the police should be at fault for what happened on that night. When my son was murdered, nobody stood up and asked for judgment to happen for him. On the mere fact that the Leader of the Opposition in the other place can use my son’s name in referring to Reform, it took 20 years and more for anybody to understand the murder of my son and to have anybody convicted. I am really pleased that the Nowak family managed to get those convictions for those who caused the murder of their son. Some in this House talk about race equality. They have no idea what race equality means; it is for those of us who have suffered from it over the years. From my perspective, families have suffered when their son has been murdered, and nobody gives two hoots about them. You can be here, standing in a position of power, and say that you want to change and go back to what it was before but, for me, what we have moved on to is a much better equality for all in this country.

[Lord Hanson of Flint (Lab)]

My noble friend speaks with an authority that nobody else in this House can match, given her experience and her understanding of how the Nowak family feel today after the verdict yesterday. I hope she heard my comments, in response to the noble Lord, Lord Davies: that I believe we need to maintain and retain equality, diversity and an understanding of the impact of those challenges on the police. But that does not mean that we cannot learn lessons about what happened in this instance, which the IOPC will opine on, or that we cannot let the police examine the guidance they issued last year so that we ensure that—this is the key point—everybody in this society is dealt with equally under the law by the police, irrespective of their colour, irrespective of their race and irrespective of their religion. It does not mean that the people who commit the type of offence that has led to this discussion today cannot be held to account, as was the perpetrator in this case, with a life sentence with a 21-year minimum.