SOUTHAMPTON – National backlash has erupted against British police following the death of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student who was handcuffed while lying on the street with fatal stab wounds.
The outcry centers on police bodycam footage showing Nowak pleading for help while officers acted on false claims of a racist attack made by his killer.
The incident has sparked protests and high-level political condemnation, raising questions about how allegations of racial motivation influence police decision-making during critical emergencies.
Conviction and Sentencing of Vickrum Digwa
Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Nowak, which occurred in Southampton in December.
During the trial, it was established that Digwa lied to responding officers, claiming that Nowak had assaulted him.
Digwa committed the attack using a knife he claimed he was permitted to carry under exemptions granted to Sikhs for ceremonial daggers, an area of law governed by the UK’s Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and subsequent guidance on religious items.
Upon the arrival of police, Digwa told officers his turban had been knocked off and that he had sustained an injury to his eye.
Jurors heard that the weapon – described in court as a 21cm (8in) blade – was not a small, sheathed kirpan but a larger knife that prosecutors argued went far beyond what is contemplated by such religious exemptions.
The judge set a minimum term of 21 years before Digwa can be considered for parole, a tariff now under separate review.
Police Conduct and Bodycam Evidence
Police bodycam footage from the scene captures Nowak lying on the pavement, stating, “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe.”
An officer is heard responding to the dying teenager, “I don’t think you have, mate.”
Nowak was handcuffed by police shortly before he died. Officers only uncuffed him and began CPR after realizing the extent of his injuries.
The family of the victim described the police treatment of their son as “inhumane and degrading.” They argue that officers appeared more focused on investigating an alleged hate crime than on treating Nowak as a critically injured victim.
The incident has intensified existing debates over how frontline officers apply training on hate crime and racial bias, and whether operational guidance properly balances the duty to protect victims with the need to assess competing claims at chaotic scenes.
National Political Response
Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated there are “serious questions” regarding the case.
“It is impossible to watch that footage and not appreciate that those questions absolutely have to be answered,” Starmer told reporters, specifically questioning how allegations of racism fed into the decision-making process.
Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, described the event as an example of the rights of ethnic minorities being prioritized over those of white British people.
“The fear of being called racist was greater than dealing with Henry Nowak’s murder,” Farage said in a statement, adding, “We should respond to this with pure cold rage.”
Farage further drew parallels between Nowak’s final words and those of George Floyd, who said “I can’t breathe” before his death in 2020.
The divergent political reactions signal a broader struggle over how Britain’s criminal justice system should respond to both violent crime and allegations of racism, with the case rapidly becoming a touchstone in the run-up to national debates on policing reform.
Government and Legal Stances
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood urged calm and told Parliament that all citizens are equal before the law.
Mahmood condemned those seeking “personal political profit from tragedy” and stated that inflammatory commentary was exacerbating a “dreadful situation.”
She emphasized that public services must weigh only the risk a person poses, regardless of race or religion.
“Whatever changes are made, it is important that nobody over-corrects or course-corrects such that all of us as citizens are no longer equal before the law,” Mahmood said.
Officials have indicated that the Independent Office for Police Conduct is examining the officers’ actions, alongside internal reviews of how hate-crime protocols and use-of-force guidance were applied. Any recommendations could feed into future revisions of national policing codes and training standards.
Protests and Institutional Action
A protest involving several hundred people took place outside the Southampton police station.
Demonstrators chanted “I can’t breathe,” and the gathering included anti-immigrant activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson.
Hampshire Police has issued an apology regarding the incident, acknowledging public anger over both the initial response and the subsequent footage.
The force confirmed the following personnel actions:
- One officer involved in the arrest has resigned.
- Three other officers are being treated as witnesses in the ongoing investigation.
The UK Attorney General’s office confirmed it has received multiple requests to increase Digwa’s minimum sentence of 21 years. Under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, law officers have 28 days from the date of sentencing to decide whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal, which could order a tougher tariff.
Beyond the individual case, senior policing figures and lawmakers now face pressure to show how they will reconcile stronger protections against hate crime with the core duty to preserve life – a balance likely to shape future operational guidance, oversight and public trust in British policing.