Shabana Mahmood insisted police officers must treat everyone equally as fury intensified over the Henry Nowak murder. The Home Secretary issued a plea for calm, declaring “I don’t think it’s helpful for us to start pitting either majority or minority communities against one another”.

It comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claimed the case demonstrated that “the rights of white people mattered less than those of ethnic minorities”. But Downing Street claimed there is “no such thing as two-tier policing”.

And Labour Home Secretary Ms Mahmood said: “In all such matters, in terms of how we engage with our public services, and they assess the risk, the only important factor is the risk the individual poses, not their race, not their religion, or indeed anything else.

“And we will not tolerate a situation where other irrelevant factors are taken into account.

“I repeat again, all are equal before the law and every public service needs to bear that in mind”.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life, with a minimum of 21 years, for stabbing Henry, 18, with a ceremonial knife.

And Digwa claimed he had been a victim of racist abuse. Police bodycam footage showed officers handcuffing Mr Nowak and ignoring claims he had been stabbed, with one even telling him “I don’t think you have mate”.

Henry Nowak told officers he had been stabbed four times and that he couldn’t breathe nine times.

“I think he [shadow home secretary Chris Philp] would acknowledge a history and a context here relating to racism and the police.

“Whatever changes are made, it is important that nobody overcorrects or course corrects such that all of us, as citizens, are no longer equal before the law.

“And this Government will always ensure that fulfilling their sacred duties to keep our communities safe, that the police always act without fear and favour and always ensure that every citizen is treated equally”.

Addressing the bodycam footage, the Home Secretary said: “It is, without question, a disturbing and tragic thing to see. People are rightly asking questions about how the situation was handled and they are shocked, and disquieted, to hear Henry’s words, “I can’t breathe.”

“I know that it is difficult to wait any longer for answers.”

Reform UK Nigel Farage warned the “rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities” as anger erupted over the police handling of the Henry Nowak murder.

Mr Farage said victim Mr Nowak was “actually treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder”.

Shocking bodycam footage released by Hampshire Constabulary late on Monday night revealed the true horror of the case.

Digwa’s family can be seen surrounding Henry, telling officers “he keeps dropping” and that he “has a mouthful of blood”.

Officers then ask Digwa what happened, before asking if “anyone other than him” had been injured. Digwa burbled on about having a “swollen eye”.

They then dragged Henry, who was collapsed on the floor across the gravel, while saying “let’s get you out of there, shall we?”

The male officer then says to his colleague “can you grab his other arm?”

The 18-year-old then told officers he had been stabbed, before an officer responded: “I don’t think you have, mate.”

Henry is then placed in handcuffs while repeatedly telling them: “I can’t breathe.”

A female officer eventually asks Henry, who is in handcuffs at this point, “where do you think you’ve been stabbed?” before saying to her colleague, “we have to check, don’t we”.

She eventually called an ambulance after realising his “pupils aren’t even reacting”.

The near-three-minute footage ends with the arresting officer asking for Henry’s name, before reading him his rights.

Ms Mahmood said: “Henry, aged just 18, was a first year university student with his life ahead of him. He was kind, hardworking, loved by his family and friends.

“His murder at the hands of Vickrum Digwa was a horrifying act. Digwa murdered Henry, and then lied about him as he lay dying, falsely accusing him of racism.

“It was an evil act.

“I know the thoughts of the whole House will now be with Henry’s family and his friends, just as mine are.

“What they have been through is heart-breaking for most of us, unimaginable. I know nothing can take their pain and loss away, but yesterday we saw some measure of justice. Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment. He will serve a minimum term of 21 years.”

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch demanded an end to “tribalism” as she called for everyone to unite around a shared British culture.

And she “We are multiracial yes, but we need to stop using race as a way of defining laws … Let’s treat everyone equally.”

Ms Mahmood told MPs: “The police in this country have a sacred duty; to police without fear or favour. Everyone in this country is equal before the law. It is the promise upon which our whole justice system rests, and the equality of every citizen is the foundation on which the openness, tolerance and generosity of this country rests.”

She continued: “Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one’s own hands. A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family.

“Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must all, together, condemn it.”