How the myth of ‘two-tier policing’ took hold – podcast

The far-right conspiracy theory is heard everywhere from pubs to parliament and riots to talk radio. Hugh Muir and Joe Mulhall explain why

This week, one phrase – once only heard on the fringes of the far right – has been everywhere: two-tier policing. It has been parroted in parliament by Nigel Farage, on social media by Elon Musk, and on the ground by far-right figures such as Tommy Robinson, as violent anti-police protests erupted in Southampton.

It has come after the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was stabbed by Vickrum Digwa and then arrested as he lay dying. Terrible mistakes were made by the police who ignored his pleas for help.