We feel deep sorrow following the tragic murder of Henry Nowak, and as the person responsible is jailed, we send our sincere condolences to Henry’s family and friends.
Henry’s senseless murder has already caused enough pain to his loved ones, who have pleaded for his death not to be weaponised. As members of the Multi-faith Forum we are committed to peace, understanding, and mutual respect. We will not let such a tragic event be used to create division amongst our communities. We are working closely with council officers, the police and wider Multi-faith Forum partners to provide reassurance to communities that may be affected by the recent events in Southampton.
The council’s Community Enforcement Safety Officers and Neighbourhood Policing Teams will be reaching out to local Gurdwaras to offer support and to understand any immediate concerns you may have. There are also increased patrols around Gurdwara Sahib Woolwich and other spaces regularly used by our Sikh community to provide a sense of safety and presence.
We are maintaining regular contact with faith leaders to ensure any concerns are heard, shared, and responded to promptly. If you experience any instances of hate or intimidation, please report this to the police by calling 999.
The Royal Borough of Greenwich has zero tolerance towards hate crime and we pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive borough. As a multi-faith group, we reaffirm our commitment to rejecting bigotry in all its forms, and ensuring that our places of worship remain sanctuaries of peace and safety for all.