UK Police Face Inquiry After Handcuffed Teen Died From Stab Wounds, June 02

Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old Southampton university student, was stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, 23, in December 2025. Police handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying while Digwa falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist attack. Bodycam footage released on June 02 shows officers dismissing Nowak’s pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. The case now triggers independent investigations and political scrutiny over police decision-making.

What the Bodycam Footage Shows

Bodycam footage released by police shows Nowak lying on his back telling officers he had been stabbed. An officer replies, “Don’t think you have, mate.” Nowak repeated “I can’t breathe” nine times and told officers he had been stabbed four times. Officers pulled him across gravel and placed him in handcuffs while Digwa stood nearby with minor injuries to his eye and face. Nowak died shortly after from a 21-centimetre stab wound to his heart. His father, Mark Nowak, said the contrast between how his son and Digwa were treated was “unbearable.”

The Attacker’s False Claim

Digwa told police that Nowak had grabbed him by the hair and taken off his turban, claiming he was the victim of a racist attack. The court later determined Digwa lied about the racism claim. Digwa was sentenced on Monday to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing Nowak with an 8-inch blade he said he carried as part of his Sikh faith. Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, was convicted of assisting an offender and faces sentencing on July 17.

Government and Police Response

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “sickened” by the footage and stated there are “serious questions for police” about how accusations of racism informed their decision-making. The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation into how officers handled the case. The National Police Chiefs Council announced it is re-examining anti-racism commitments published last year. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood called the unrest in Southampton “completely unacceptable” but acknowledged the Nowak family’s call not to let the death create “further division, hatred or tension.”

Political Debate Over Police Guidelines

The case sparked debate over police anti-racism guidelines. The NPCC’s 2025 anti-racism document stated that achieving equality of outcomes did not mean treating everyone the same but responding to specific circumstances and experiences. Conservative and Reform UK politicians argued this created “two-tier policing” based on skin colour. A source close to Home Secretary Mahmood said the wording was clumsy. Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said the NPCC is listening to concerns and will make changes where needed. The attorney general’s office is also considering whether Digwa’s 21-year minimum sentence was unduly lenient.

Final Thoughts

The Nowak case exposes a critical failure in police response when a false racism claim overrode evidence of a stabbing victim. Independent investigations are underway, but the core question remains: how did officers dismiss a dying teenager’s repeated pleas for help?

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