Two-tier policing: What is it and why is it dividing Britain?

Shocking body-camera footage from a recent police incident has reignited a contentious national debate about law enforcement practices in the UK. The incident, involving a fatal confrontation that raised questions about racial and political bias, has deepened public divides over what critics describe as a systemic disparity in policing.

What critics call “two-tier policing”—the perception that authorities treat certain communities or causes differently—has long been debated, particularly around high-profile cases of violent crime and activism. Some allege that ethnic minorities and migrant groups receive preferential treatment, while others emphasize evidence showing systemic discrimination against these communities.

A pivotal example is the 1990s to 2010s grooming gangs that targeted young white girls, with critics arguing police hesitated to investigate due to fears of cultural insensitivity. However, experts like criminologist Peter Squires of the University of Brighton dismiss the concept of formal two-tier policing as a “political narrative.” He argues that while policing has evolved significantly since the institutional racism exposed after the 1993 murder of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence, claims of systemic bias remain exaggerated.

The recent case of Henry Nowak, a white man killed by his South Asian accuser during a public confrontation, intensified scrutiny. Though Nowak was initially detained for suspected racist abuse, an autopsy revealed alcohol intoxication and a fatal stab wound. His family’s allegations of systemic bias clashed with police assertions that the incident was mishandled due to procedural lapses, not ideological favoritism.

Protests and counter-demonstrations—particularly around anti-migration policies and pro-Palestine or Black Lives Matter rallies—have become flashpoints. Critics claim anti-migration protests face harsher policing than those supporting movement, while organizers of the latter argue authorities disproportionately scrutinize lawful dissent.

Data complicates the narrative: a 2023 report showed minority communities are more likely to be stopped, searched, or detained by police. Meanwhile, white working-class neighborhoods, often cited by former officer and diversity advocate Solat Chaudhry, face neglect. “Policing by consent” has frayed, Squires notes, as public trust erodes amid conflicting perceptions of bias.

Chaudhry, who experienced both overt racism as a Black officer and systemic inequities affecting marginalized groups, argues the real divide lies in class. “Poor white communities have been systematically failed,” he says, pointing to under-resourced policing in deprived areas. He maintains the grooming gangs reflected institutional negligence toward vulnerable white girls, not ethnic bias.

The UK’s policing system—historically defined by its “consent-based” model—now navigates competing pressures: addressing historic injustices, responding to populist anti-migration rhetoric, and balancing civil liberties with public safety. Wiggett of Policing Insight warns that neither perspective captures full reality, as “both narratives exaggerate flawed coincidences.”

As debates dominate headlines and streets, the challenge remains bridging divides without sacrificing accountability. For Squires, the path lies in transparent reforms and community engagement, not political point-scoring.

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