The politician overseeing Warwickshire Police received thanks for his measured response to the murder of Henry Nowak before making a point of telling councillors: "I won't be posting it on Facebook."

Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Seccombe started this week's meeting of Warwickshire's Police & Crime Panel with a statement to "address the commentary that has followed the tragic death of Henry Nowak, both nationally and locally here in Warwickshire".

Warwickshire County Council leader Cllr George Finch published on social media a letter he sent to Mr Seccombe and acting chief constable David Gardner referencing the circumstances surrounding Mr Nowak's murder in Southampton.

There was national outrage after evidence emerged that Mr Nowak had been arrested and handcuffed over allegations he was the aggressor despite telling officers from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary that he had been stabbed by one of his accusers.

Wounds were not seen in a fleeting check and it took officers around three minutes to realise the urgency of Mr Nowak's need for medical attention.

The matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for investigation.

Cllr Finch released his correspondence to county council chief executive Monica Fogarty, asking her to recognise that "white lives matter too" and referring to the council's statement supporting the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd was murdered by a serving police officer kneeling on his neck in America in 2020.

That was followed by Cllr Finch's request to meet with Mr Seccombe and Mr Gardner to seek assurance that Warwickshire Police puts preservation of life and medical need ahead of allegations, that its officers are not "being trained, guided or pressured in any way that could make them hesitate because of race, religion or background" and on how the force combats "the practice or perception of two-tier policing".

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He also calls for the county council, the force and the PCC to come up with a practical plan to "give residents confidence there is one standard of justice for everyone".

His letter went on to insist that "this is not about denying the importance of standing against racism wherever it exists" but argued that "we must also be able to say, plainly and without embarrassment, that white lives matter too".

Mr Seccombe did not refer to Cllr Finch or his letter in a statement that hailed Mr Nowak's family for showing "dignity, restraint and compassion in the most difficult circumstances imaginable", noting they had been "clear that Henry's death should not be used to divide communities or create further tension".

"That message deserves respect. It is one that I fully support and one that we should all reflect on," he said.

He acknowledged that "public confidence depends on those questions being examined properly and answered openly" with high-profile cases able to "affect confidence well beyond the area in which they occur" but added: "Accountability depends not just on asking difficult questions but on ensuring answers are grounded in the full evidence.

"It is important to be honest about what we do know and what we don't know. No one commentating publicly on this tragedy was present at the scene and the full evidence of what transpired with the policing response has yet to be tested.

"People are quite right to ask questions, particularly where concerns have been raised by the victim's family. We should also be willing to wait for the findings of the investigation.

"Policing decisions are often made in fast-moving situations, sometimes with incomplete or conflicting information. That is precisely why the independent review process exists, to establish the facts and determine whether anything should have been done differently."

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Mr Seccombe said it was not his role to "engage in speculation or point scoring", rather ensure that "policing in Warwickshire is fair, accountable and trusted".

"Equality before the law is fundamental," he continued.

"Every individual should be treated fairly, with dignity and compassion. Every investigation must be guided by evidence. The law must be applied consistently regardless of background.

"At the same time, we must recognise the evidence that some black, Asian and minority ethnic communities have historically had a poorer experience of policing and the wider criminal justice system.

"These positions are not contradictory. Building trust and addressing those concerns remains essential for policing by consent."

Mr Seccombe concluded: "I do not support language or actions that sets communities against one another, nor should this tragedy be drawn into political argument, particularly when Henry Nowak's family has asked for the opposite.

"It is the approach I have always taken as Police & Crime Commissioner and one that I will continue to take on behalf of all communities here in Warwickshire."

Rugby borough councillor Claire Edwards thanked him.

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"That was a really appropriate message at this challenging time, that we are all here and working together for the betterment of Warwickshire," she said.

Seemingly in a nod to Cllr Finch's methods, Mr Seccombe replied: "And I won't be posting it on Facebook."

County councillor Keith Kondakor said a further briefing may be appropriate in the future but that it was "quite right that we respect" the investigation process.