A think-tank has warned that policing in Britain is being undermined by excessive emphasis on diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, arguing this has diverted focus and resources away from core crime-fighting duties. The report cites failures linked to high-profile cases, including the Southport murders, violent disorder in Nottingham, and the killing of Henry Nowak, suggesting institutional priorities may have contributed to missed warning signs or inadequate responses in these incidents.

The warning forms part of a wider critique of how DEI policies have been embedded across police forces in recent years, with critics arguing that such initiatives can come at the expense of frontline effectiveness and public safety. The cases referenced have each drawn significant public and political scrutiny over police conduct and decision-making, and the think-tank's intervention adds to an ongoing debate about the balance between institutional culture reforms and operational policing priorities.