Police in the UK are under scrutiny as details continue to emerge from the Southhampton Crown Court case involving the killing of student Henry Nowak, as court findings and witness accounts continue to reshape what happened in the final moments of the attack.
The Free Speech Union said "Whilst Henry Nowak’s murderer has been found guilty, the treatment Henry was subjected to by the police remains a scandal. Henry was brutally stabbed on the streets of Southampton by a man carrying a 21cm ceremonial knife. Rather than attempting to save the life of a young man bleeding to death, police chose to arrest him following an accusation that he had made a racist comment. The police appeared more interested in an allegation of racism than in saving the life of a young man drowning in his own blood. There are serious questions that must be answered."
They shared a letter from MP Robert Jerrick, who said that "Henry's treatment remains an appalling scandal." He demanded answers from the Home Secretary about why there has not yet been an investigation into police actions that led to the neglect of Nowak to the point of death.
"Why did the police automatically arrest Heny base don one allegation he had made a racial slur—something prosecution describe as a 'wicked lie'? Why was Henry's handcuffing and arrest considered a priority for the police when he was in critical conditino? Why, more broadly, do racial sensitivities consistently appear to shape how the police enforce the law these days?"
Questions about two-tier policing continue to be raised in this case and in cases involving the systemic rape of British girls by migrants to the UK. Those rape cases were notoriously overlooked by a government that took a knee for George Floyd yet has been silent about crimes against their own countrymen.
In recent proceedings, Vickrum Digwa was found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Nowak, who was stabbed during an incident on December 3. Digwa used what was described in court as a “ceremonial” 21-centimetre kirpan blade, which he is legally permitted to carry for religious reasons. Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender, with prosecutors alleging she removed the weapon from the scene. Both defendants, of St Denys Road, denied the offences.
The court heard Digwa told police that Nowak had “racially abused” him and acted aggressively before the stabbing. Prosecutors said this claim was false. Digwa also pleaded not guilty to murder, arguing self-defence during the trial.
Further testimony outlined that after being stabbed five times, Nowak attempted to flee the scene and was pursued after trying to climb a fence, before collapsing nearby while returning home from a night out with his football team.
Separate reporting from court proceedings and witness accounts has raised serious questions about police actions at the scene. Officers reportedly encountered Nowak lying injured in the street, suffering stab wounds to his chest and legs, repeatedly stating “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe.”
He was handcuffed while critically injured after officers were told he had been the attacker and had "racially abused" Digwa. Bodycam footage includes an officer saying: “I don’t think so, mate.” Witnesses claim he was dragged across gravel while restrained, and that handcuffs were only removed once he lost consciousness, after which CPR was attempted. He died at the scene after drowning in his own blood.
Hampshire Police have since issued an apology over the decision to restrain Nowak, stating officers were misled by Digwa’s account. Deputy chief constable Robert France said: “This case is an absolute tragedy. I’m sorry that Henry’s life couldn’t be saved that night, and I’m sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested. He was the victim,” adding that injuries were likely fatal regardless of police intervention.
He also said: “There’s an ongoing investigation by the IOPC, which will look into all of the information available to officers, their accounts of the decisions they made and why they made those decisions. What I can say at the moment is that it is clear that there were lies told [by Digwa] as the incident played out. That’s made it more difficult for officers to understand what had happened.”
The Free Speech Union said "Whilst Henry Nowak’s murderer has been found guilty, the treatment Henry was subjected to by the police remains a scandal. Henry was brutally stabbed on the streets of Southampton by a man carrying a 21cm ceremonial knife. Rather than attempting to save the life of a young man bleeding to death, police chose to arrest him following an accusation that he had made a racist comment. The police appeared more interested in an allegation of racism than in saving the life of a young man drowning in his own blood. There are serious questions that must be answered."
They shared a letter from MP Robert Jerrick, who said that "Henry's treatment remains an appalling scandal." He demanded answers from the Home Secretary about why there has not yet been an investigation into police actions that led to the neglect of Nowak to the point of death.
"Why did the police automatically arrest Heny base don one allegation he had made a racial slur—something prosecution describe as a 'wicked lie'? Why was Henry's handcuffing and arrest considered a priority for the police when he was in critical conditino? Why, more broadly, do racial sensitivities consistently appear to shape how the police enforce the law these days?"
Questions about two-tier policing continue to be raised in this case and in cases involving the systemic rape of British girls by migrants to the UK. Those rape cases were notoriously overlooked by a government that took a knee for George Floyd yet has been silent about crimes against their own countrymen.
In recent proceedings, Vickrum Digwa was found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Nowak, who was stabbed during an incident on December 3. Digwa used what was described in court as a “ceremonial” 21-centimetre kirpan blade, which he is legally permitted to carry for religious reasons. Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender, with prosecutors alleging she removed the weapon from the scene. Both defendants, of St Denys Road, denied the offences.
The court heard Digwa told police that Nowak had “racially abused” him and acted aggressively before the stabbing. Prosecutors said this claim was false. Digwa also pleaded not guilty to murder, arguing self-defence during the trial.
Further testimony outlined that after being stabbed five times, Nowak attempted to flee the scene and was pursued after trying to climb a fence, before collapsing nearby while returning home from a night out with his football team.
Separate reporting from court proceedings and witness accounts has raised serious questions about police actions at the scene. Officers reportedly encountered Nowak lying injured in the street, suffering stab wounds to his chest and legs, repeatedly stating “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe.”
He was handcuffed while critically injured after officers were told he had been the attacker and had "racially abused" Digwa. Bodycam footage includes an officer saying: “I don’t think so, mate.” Witnesses claim he was dragged across gravel while restrained, and that handcuffs were only removed once he lost consciousness, after which CPR was attempted. He died at the scene after drowning in his own blood.
Hampshire Police have since issued an apology over the decision to restrain Nowak, stating officers were misled by Digwa’s account. Deputy chief constable Robert France said: “This case is an absolute tragedy. I’m sorry that Henry’s life couldn’t be saved that night, and I’m sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested. He was the victim,” adding that injuries were likely fatal regardless of police intervention.
He also said: “There’s an ongoing investigation by the IOPC, which will look into all of the information available to officers, their accounts of the decisions they made and why they made those decisions. What I can say at the moment is that it is clear that there were lies told [by Digwa] as the incident played out. That’s made it more difficult for officers to understand what had happened.”
