Police Handcuffed Dying Student Henry Nowak, Sparks UK Inquiry, June 03

Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old Southampton university student, died after being stabbed with a 21cm blade in December 2025. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, 23, falsely told police that Nowak had assaulted him. Officers believed Digwa and handcuffed the dying teenager instead of treating his wounds. The case has now sparked a police watchdog investigation and nationwide protests, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling the police response “harrowing.”

What the Police Bodycam Footage Shows

Bodycam footage released by Hampshire Police shows Nowak lying on the ground saying “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe” nine times. An officer responds, “I don’t think you have, mate.” Digwa, standing nearby with minor injuries, claims Nowak assaulted him and knocked off his turban. Officers then handcuff Nowak as he pleads for help. Only after Nowak loses consciousness do officers remove the handcuffs and perform CPR. Nowak suffered fatal stab wounds to his heart and legs.

Digwa Sentenced to Life, Investigation Launched

Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life in prison on June 2, 2026, with a minimum term of 21 years. Judge William Mousley KC stated he was certain Nowak had said nothing racist to Digwa. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the officers’ actions and is expected to report within three months. The attorney general’s office is also reviewing Digwa’s sentence after receiving multiple requests under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.

PM Orders Review of Police Decision-Making

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he “felt sick” watching the bodycam footage and called it “harrowing.” He stated there are “serious questions that need to be addressed, not least how accusations of racism informed the decision-making in this case.” Starmer did not rule out a wider inquiry beyond the IOPC investigation. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the unrest that followed as “completely unacceptable” but acknowledged the Nowak family’s call to not use the death to create division.

Nowak’s Family Calls for Knife Crime Action

Nowak’s father, Mark, said his son “should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody” and called the treatment “inhumane and degrading.” Hampshire Police has apologized. The family called on the government to treat knife crime as a “national emergency” and urged change rather than conflict. Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones wrote to the prime minister requesting an urgent review of laws allowing the carrying of bladed articles for religious and ceremonial purposes.

Final Thoughts

Officers’ decision to handcuff a dying teenager based on a false racist claim has triggered a formal police investigation and calls for wider inquiry. The case exposes how false allegations can override officer judgment in life-or-death situations.

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