Henry Novak's family accuse politicians of exploiting his murder as IOPC scrutiny widens

ITV reported that Henry Novak's family had accused some politicians of exploiting his murder. The family said the student would have hated the riots that followed his death. They said he was not a divisive person.

ITV reported that Novak was stabbed by Vikram Digwar last year. He was handcuffed by police as he lay dying after his attacker falsely accused him of racial abuse. Body-camera footage of the arrest sparked violent protests across the UK.

The family condemned the violence, ITV reported. They said they understood why people were angry and supported the right to protest, but not the riots. Asked if the riots were in Henry's name, the family said they were not and that he would never have done such a thing.

At the sentencing of Novak's killer, the family called for calm, ITV reported. They said they did not want his death used to create further division, hatred or tension. ITV also broadcast politicians saying they did not apologise for attaching his case to a cause. One said the only regret was that Novak was not alive, and made no apologies.

ITV reported that some people claimed the footage showed two-tier policing, the idea that officers had favoured Novak's killer because of his race. The family did not use that term. They said they wanted to know why Novak was on the floor and treated differently from the other family.

The family want more accountability from the Independent Office for Police Conduct, ITV reported. The watchdog initially told them there had been no serious misconduct by officers. The Home Secretary said she had full confidence in the IOPC and that it did good work every day. She acknowledged that questions needing answers had to be scrutinised.

ITV reported that critics were less generous. One said the IOPC investigation looked as though it had been dishonest with the family. The IOPC is investigating Novak's case while itself being investigated. It says it is committed to getting answers for the family.

ITV reported that the IOPC is due to report back on the behaviour of Hampshire police in January. The government is launching an independent review into the IOPC, due to report in March.

ITV also reported that the father of Grace O'Malley-Kumar, a victim of the Nottingham attack, said he was horrified by the Home Secretary's confidence in the IOPC. He said it was not an organisation that could be trusted.