LONDON – British police chiefs have announced a review of controversial anti-racism guidance following widespread anger over the treatment of a fatally stabbed student who was handcuffed as he lay dying.

Henry Nowak (18) was restrained by police officers and heard on bodycam footage repeatedly telling them he could not breathe after being stabbed in Southampton in December. His attacker, Vickrum Digwa (23), had falsely claimed to officers that he was the victim and that Nowak had racially abused him.

Digwa was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison on Monday for murdering Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21-centimetre blade.

The case has reignited debate about what critics call “two-tier policing”, with claims that police treat ethnic minorities more leniently than white Britons. Hard-right lawmaker Nigel Farage and activist Tommy Robinson have used the incident to support these claims, though Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour government deny such policing exists.

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said it would review its Race Action Plan, which provides guidance on treating suspected criminals differently based on their ethnicity.

“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,” NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said.

The guidance, published last year, states that commitment to racial equality “does not mean treating everyone ‘the same’ or being ‘colour blind’”. It was introduced to address statistics showing black people are more than twice as likely to be arrested as white people in Britain.

Policing minister Sarah Jones said the review was appropriate.

Footage shown during Digwa’s trial revealed police initially accepted his claim of racial abuse and handcuffed Nowak despite the student’s pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. Moments later, Nowak collapsed and lost consciousness.

Starmer, a former chief state prosecutor, said he “felt sick” watching the footage and that there were “serious questions” to answer.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating and is expected to report within three months. Hampshire Police confirmed three officers involved in the incident remain in service whilst one has resigned.

More than 1 000 protesters gathered in Southampton on Tuesday evening, with violence erupting despite pleas from Nowak’s father that his son’s murder not be used “to create further division, hatred or tension”.

A group of around 100 protesters dismantled garden fences and threw bricks, flares and chairs at police, rolling a burning bin towards a line of riot officers. Police responded with spray and riot shields. Two people were arrested.

Interior minister Shabana Mahmood accused demonstrators of “hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder”.