Baroness Doreen Lawrence has criticised the police response to the killing of Henry Nowak, saying officers “should be at fault” over the handling of the teenager’s final moments.
The mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence made the remarks in the House of Lords as the fallout continued from the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Henry in Southampton.
Offering her condolences to Henry’s family, Lady Lawrence said: “My condolence goes out to Henry Nowak’s family.
“I think what’s happened with him should never have happened. And the police should be at fault for what happened on that night.”
Her intervention comes after the release of police bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing Henry after the man who stabbed him allegedly claimed he had been subjected to racist abuse.
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The footage, which has sparked national outrage, shows Henry repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed before the seriousness of his injuries was recognised.
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years earlier this week after being convicted of Henry’s murder.
According to a report by GB News Lady Lawrence also appeared to take issue with comparisons between the case and the death of her son Stephen, whose racist murder in south-east London in 1993 became one of the most significant criminal cases in modern British history.
Referring to the lengthy battle for justice following Stephen’s death, she told peers: “Now, when my son was murdered, there was nobody standing up and asking for judgment to happen for him.
“And 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.”
Her comments followed remarks by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who argued that Henry’s killing and the subsequent police response should become a defining moment for Britain.
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Ms Badenoch said earlier: “Henry’s murder and the police’s botched response must be a seminal moment for Britain on a par with the murder of Stephen Lawrence.”
Lady Lawrence also reflected on the changes that followed her family’s campaign for justice, telling the House of Lords: “What we’ve moved on to is a much better equality for all in this country.”
The Henry Nowak case has prompted intense scrutiny of the actions of officers who attended the scene, with Hampshire Police already issuing an apology to the teenager’s family.
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct remains ongoing.
Meanwhile, Hampshire Police Federation has condemned online abuse directed at officers and warned against calls for “vigilante justice” after some individuals were wrongly identified on social media.
Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France previously said officers had been misled by the information initially available to them and were dealing with what he described as an “extremely complex” incident.