Police Handcuffed Dying Student Henry Nowak, Sparked UK Inquiry

An 18-year-old Southampton student was handcuffed by police while dying from stab wounds after his attacker falsely claimed racism. Bodycam footage released June 02 shows Henry Nowak telling officers “I can’t breathe” nine times as they restrained him. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, 23, received a life sentence with a 21-year minimum term. The case has triggered a police watchdog investigation and raised serious questions about how officers respond to false accusations.

What the Bodycam Footage Shows

Police bodycam video released with the Nowak family’s permission shows officers arriving at a Southampton street on December 3, 2025. Digwa falsely told police that Nowak had racially abused him and knocked off his turban. Officers arrested and handcuffed Nowak as he lay on the ground, despite him repeatedly saying he had been stabbed and could not breathe. An officer responded “Don’t think you have, mate” when Nowak said he was stabbed. Nowak suffered stab wounds to his legs and a fatal wound to his heart from a 21cm blade. He became unresponsive within minutes and was later pronounced dead.

Family Calls Treatment ‘Inhumane and Degrading’

Nowak’s father, Mark, said his son told officers he could not breathe nine times and that he had been stabbed four times. “Henry was pulled across the gravel, his hands forced behind his back and he was placed in handcuffs,” Mark said. The family called the police response “inhumane and degrading” and said Henry “did not die with dignity.” Hampshire police has apologised for the officers’ actions. The family also called on the government to treat knife crime as a “national emergency.”

Government and Police Watchdog Launch Investigations

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he felt “sick” watching the footage and described it as “harrowing.” He said there are “serious questions for police” about how accusations of racism informed decision-making at the scene. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the police force’s actions and is expected to report within three months. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the footage raises “disturbing” questions about police response. The attorney general’s office is also reviewing Digwa’s 21-year minimum sentence under the unduly lenient sentence scheme after receiving multiple requests to do so.

Digwa Convicted, Sikh Community Faces Backlash

Digwa was sentenced on June 01 to life imprisonment with a minimum 21-year term. Judge William Mousley said Digwa’s actions had “stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their safety.” The judge dismissed Digwa’s racism claims, stating he was sure Nowak had not said anything racist. Since the conviction, Sikh community leaders report that at least 15 Sikhs have been accosted on streets by groups asking if they carried kirpans (ceremonial daggers). Sikh groups condemned the murder while warning that inflammatory political rhetoric was fuelling backlash against the wider community.

Final Thoughts

Bodycam footage showing police handcuffing a dying teenager has triggered a formal police watchdog investigation and calls for wider inquiry. The case reveals serious gaps in how officers assess accusations of racism at crime scenes.

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