Killer jailed for life over Southampton stabbing as police conduct faces IOPC scrutiny

The killing of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in Southampton has reignited a national debate about policing, race and the response of officers at the scene, after the man who murdered him was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was convicted of murder over the fatal stabbing, which took place on a residential street in the coastal city in December. The case drew intense public attention following the release of footage that appeared to show officers dismissing Nowak when he told them he had been attacked.

The conduct of the officers who attended is now the subject of an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, while ministers have appealed for calm amid heightened tensions and online speculation.

What the footage showed

According to accounts of the case, officers arrived after a reported altercation. Digwa told them he had been the victim of an attack, and the court found that he had lied about being targeted in a racist assault. Nowak repeatedly said that he had been stabbed and could not breathe.

Footage showed officers responding with apparent scepticism before handcuffing Nowak. Only after detaining him did they begin to search for wounds; on discovering his injuries they removed the handcuffs and started CPR. He could not be saved.

“It is devastating the officers did not believe Henry when he said he'd been stabbed and couldn't breathe.”

The IOPC investigation

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is examining the actions of officers from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, focusing on their decisions at the scene and the care provided to Nowak in the minutes after they arrived.

The watchdog has stressed that its role is to establish the facts independently and that any findings will follow a thorough process. Such investigations can lead to recommendations on training and procedure, and in some cases to disciplinary or criminal referrals.

Ministerial response

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood rejected claims of so-called two-tier policing and urged Parliament not to allow the case to turn communities against one another. She warned that online rumours had fuelled threats, including against an officer who was not involved in the arrest.

Local Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones described the failure to believe Nowak as devastating, reflecting the strength of feeling in the community and the pressure on the force to demonstrate accountability.

• Henry Nowak, 18, was fatally stabbed on a residential street in Southampton in December.
• Vickrum Digwa, 23, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 21 years.
• The court found Digwa had falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist attack.
• Footage showed officers handcuffing Nowak as he said he had been stabbed.
• The IOPC is investigating the conduct of Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers.

Background

The case has unfolded against a backdrop of long-running scrutiny of how police respond to victims at the scene of violent incidents, and of wider concerns about public trust in policing. Campaigners have argued that the footage raises difficult questions about assumptions made under pressure in fast-moving situations.

The IOPC routinely investigates deaths following police contact, and its conclusions in high-profile cases often shape national guidance. Officials have urged the public to allow the investigation to run its course rather than drawing conclusions from incomplete information circulating online.

What happens next

The IOPC investigation will continue, with its findings expected to address the decisions made at the scene and any lessons for the force. Police leaders and ministers will be watching for recommendations that could influence how officers assess and treat potential victims, particularly where competing accounts are given in the first moments of an incident.