A police officer has resigned following the release of bodycam footage showing the arrest of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, while three other officers involved remain in post as an investigation continues.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed the resignation Tuesday, stating, “Three of the officers are still serving, one officer has resigned,” a spokesman said, according to GB News.
The force added, “As the IOPC has confirmed, they are all being treated as witnesses, so not subject to any current restrictions.”
The case relates to the December 3 death of Nowak, a finance student who was stabbed with a 21 cm knife while walking home from a night out in Southampton. During the investigation, Vickrum Digwa, 23, falsely claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack. Officers handcuffed Nowak, and he later died of his injuries.
Footage from the scene, released last night, shows officers responding to Nowak after he repeatedly said, “I have been stabbed.” In the recording, one officer responds, “I don't think you have, mate.” Nowak was placed in handcuffs and read his rights before being told he was under arrest. He died just over an hour later.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is now reviewing the actions of officers involved in the incident. Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France addressed the case last week, saying, “It is a tragedy that officers did not immediately understand what had happened to Henry.”
He added, “I am sorry that he had been handcuffed and arrested as he lost consciousness.” “I don't want to hide the facts. I want people to understand the full facts.”
He said a pathologist’s report concluded there was nothing officers could have done to save the teenager’s life.
Separately, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs that one officer had been forced into hiding after being wrongly identified online in connection with the case.
She said, “Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one's own hands. A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family. Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse.”
This is a breaking news story.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed the resignation Tuesday, stating, “Three of the officers are still serving, one officer has resigned,” a spokesman said, according to GB News.
The force added, “As the IOPC has confirmed, they are all being treated as witnesses, so not subject to any current restrictions.”
The case relates to the December 3 death of Nowak, a finance student who was stabbed with a 21 cm knife while walking home from a night out in Southampton. During the investigation, Vickrum Digwa, 23, falsely claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack. Officers handcuffed Nowak, and he later died of his injuries.
Footage from the scene, released last night, shows officers responding to Nowak after he repeatedly said, “I have been stabbed.” In the recording, one officer responds, “I don't think you have, mate.” Nowak was placed in handcuffs and read his rights before being told he was under arrest. He died just over an hour later.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is now reviewing the actions of officers involved in the incident. Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France addressed the case last week, saying, “It is a tragedy that officers did not immediately understand what had happened to Henry.”
He added, “I am sorry that he had been handcuffed and arrested as he lost consciousness.” “I don't want to hide the facts. I want people to understand the full facts.”
He said a pathologist’s report concluded there was nothing officers could have done to save the teenager’s life.
Separately, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs that one officer had been forced into hiding after being wrongly identified online in connection with the case.
She said, “Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one's own hands. A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family. Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse.”
This is a breaking news story.
