Southampton, UK – The tragic death of 18-year-old university student Henry Nowak last December has ignited widespread outrage and led to calls for an urgent inspection into Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. Nowak was murdered by Vickrum Digwa, 23, but public fury has focused on the police's actions during Nowak's final moments, where he was handcuffed while dying after his attacker falsely accused him of racism. Body-worn camera footage reportedly shows Nowak repeatedly pleading, "I've been stabbed" and "I can't breathe," while being restrained.
Vickrum Digwa was recently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing Nowak five times. The sentencing has brought renewed attention to the circumstances surrounding Nowak's death, particularly the police response at the scene. Digwa reportedly claimed to be the victim of a racist attack, leading officers to arrest Nowak as he lay fatally wounded.
The incident has sparked significant public outcry, with social media users like PoIiMath stating, "The simple fact of this case is that the police thought Henry Nowak was a racist and that meant that they did not feel obligated to extend to him any form of human decency." This sentiment reflects broader concerns that police failed to treat Nowak as a victim, denying him critical immediate medical care.
Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Donna Jones has formally requested an "urgent inspection" by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services. PCC Jones stated that the manner of Nowak's death, "falsely accused by his attacker as he lay dying, arrested, restrained, and denied the immediate medical care he desperately needed," has caused "profound public shock and outrage."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is conducting an investigation into the conduct of the officers present, one of whom has since resigned, while three others remain serving as witnesses. PCC Jones's letter also highlighted "serious and troubling questions" regarding the Force Control Room's intelligence sharing and the training provided to frontline officers on responding to stabbing incidents, including recognizing concealed injuries. Protests have erupted in Southampton, with demonstrators clashing with riot police, demanding accountability and systemic change.
