An independent review led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk KC will examine potential missed opportunities and systemic failures following the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak.
Handcuffed while bleeding to death on a Southampton street, 18-year-old student Henry Nowak repeatedly warned officers that he had been stabbed, only to be told: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
The teenager died in December after being fatally stabbed as he walked home from a night out. Responding officers handcuffed him after his killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, falsely accused Nowak of racial abuse.
Police response under IOPC investigation
Two officers who were first on the scene are now under investigation for potential gross misconduct by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Investigators are probing why the officers failed to recognise that Nowak needed urgent medical attention, choosing to arrest the dying student rather than administer immediate first aid.
Public outcry over the bodycam footage sparked widespread protests across the country, prompting allegations of “two-tier policing” and leading to a spike in racist attacks against the UK’s Sikh community.
Warning signs ignored before killing
The murder has raised serious questions over missed warning signs regarding Digwa, who had a history of threatening behaviour and an obsession with weapons.
Young local Sikhs revealed that Digwa had used threatening behaviour inside a Southampton gurdwara in the months leading up to the fatal attack.
Reports by The Sun disclosed that a neighbour filmed Digwa brandishing and firing an airgun in his back garden in October 2022. Although she reported the incident to police, Hampshire constabulary was unable to find any record of it.
On the night of the attack, Digwa was carrying two knives, including a kirpan. Carrying the blade is permitted in the UK for religious reasons.
Inquiry launched by Home Secretary
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the review in the House of Commons, confirming that Alex Chalk KC will report initial findings within five months.
Last December, Henry Nowak’s life was cut short in a horrific and senseless act of violence. My thoughts today are with Henry’s family and his friends, who have shown extraordinary courage and dignity.
Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary
Speaking to MPs, Shabana Mahmood outlined the scope of the probe:
It [the review] will investigate what was known about the perpetrator, including any missed opportunities to intervene.
It will look at the Nowak family’s experience of the criminal justice system and whether they were supported in the manner they should have been.
Once the Independent Office for Police Conduct [IOPC] has concluded its investigation into the police response, this review will also consider the actions of the IOPC and, if necessary, the police.
Family slams criminal justice system
Nowak’s family welcomed the review as a “significant moment” in their fight for justice.
The Nowak family expressed their grief and frustration in a statement:
Since Henry was murdered, we’ve fought tirelessly for answers to questions no family should ever have to ask. The emotional toll of that fight, on top of the unimaginable grief of losing Henry, has been immense.
We hope this review, alongside the ongoing investigations and inquest, will finally uncover the full truth and deliver the accountability and meaningful change we have fought so hard for.
Our experience of the criminal justice system has been deeply disappointing, and we are determined that no other family should have to endure what we have.
Weapons hoard hidden in home
Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years. He has been given permission to challenge the length of his sentence at the court of appeal on 5 November.
His mother, Kiran Kaur, was jailed for three years for assisting an offender after removing the murder weapon. Police recovered the knife at their family home alongside more than 20 other weapons.