LIVE: UK parliament addresses handcuffed student death

Officers handcuffed dying victim

Bodycam footage revealed police restrained Henry Novak as he lay dying, treating him as a criminal after accepting the murderer's false account rather than assessing the actual threat or providing immediate medical aid.

Independent investigation underway

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is conducting a comprehensive investigation with guaranteed resources and full independence, expected to publish findings within three months.

Training deficiencies questioned

MPs raised concerns that police training for high-stress incidents may be inadequate, requiring urgent review to ensure officers prioritize life-saving measures over restraint when no credible threat exists.

MacPherson Report sparks debate

Conservative MPs argued that fear of racism accusations causes police to underreact or overreact, while others countered that anti-racism frameworks remain essential for maintaining community consent and confidence.

Equal before the law emphasized

The Home Secretary insisted risk assessment must focus solely on individual danger, explicitly rejecting differential treatment based on race or religion while acknowledging historic policing disparities.

Warnings against politicization

Multiple MPs cited Henry's father Mark Novak's plea to prevent the murder from being weaponized to create hatred, specifically condemning attempts to scapegoat the Sikh community or ban religious articles like the Kirpan.

Calls for stronger knife laws

Despite recent bans on zombie knives, MPs demanded tougher, consistent knife legislation and dedicated enforcement resources to address the UK's ongoing knife crime epidemic.

Government's decade-long commitment

The administration reaffirmed its pledge to halve knife crime over ten years through a comprehensive action plan, though critics questioned whether current measures are sufficient without additional resources.