A spokeswoman for Hampshire Police told The Sunday Times: “Following the opening of the trial and the media reporting that followed, a significant amount of mis- and disinformation was circulating online.
Video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak
PA
“This included requests for information to be shared that had not been fully examined as part of the murder trial.
“The intention of the statement was to remind the public that there were ongoing legal proceedings and that the law is clear that nothing could be published which could prejudice the trial.
“The decision not to publish was taken following advice from the CPS.”
It is understood the statement contained information about the process of a court case, reminded people that nothing could be published that could prejudice legal proceedings, and said that police would answer questions once the trial was complete.
The case has sent shockwaves across the nation and sparked violent protests in Southampton.
Henry Nowak’s murderer Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years
PA Media
Eleven people have since been charged after violent clashes at protests following the sentencing.
Mr Nowak’s father Mark has said the family “do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension”, but the police’s treatment of the student has sparked a political row.
The Prime Minister has urged politicians to heed the teenager’s relatives’ calls not to use the case “to cause disturbances” while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been criticised for saying people should respond with “pure, cold rage”.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused police leaders of “institutional incompetence” through the training officers are given.
She said: “It is the police chiefs, operationally independent from government, who must take responsibility for letting that happen.
People gather at the Cenotaph in Southampton to protest the death of Henry Nowak
Getty
“I believe the issue is the training [officers] are given. Well-meaning, but totally wrong-headed, lacking in common sense and, possibly illegal… The problem is not institutional racism towards blacks or whites but institutional incompetence.”
On Friday US vice president JD Vance said there should be “righteous anger” in response to the murder of Mr Nowak, which he partly blamed on “the mass invasion of migrants”.
His extraordinary comments triggered a response from Downing Street, which criticised “people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets”.
No 10 has also hit out at US tech billionaire Elon Musk, accusing him of trying to “whip up division” after he said he was willing to fund a private prosecution against Hampshire Police.
