Two police officers who attended the scene of Henry Nowak's murder are under investigation for potential gross misconduct after they handcuffed the 18-year-old as he lay dying from stab wounds and failed to administer immediate first aid.
The incident occurred in Southampton on December 3 last year. Mr Nowak told officers he could not breathe and that he had been stabbed, but officers from Hampshire Constabulary ignored his pleas and did not realise he was mortally injured, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
IOPC Investigation into Failures
The IOPC said it is investigating potential failures by the officers to recognise that Mr Nowak needed urgent medical attention, to take action when he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff him instead of providing first aid. One officer is also under investigation for potentially breaching conduct standards by dismissing the teenager's claim that he had been stabbed.
The watchdog is also examining whether race or religion played a part in the officers' decision-making. The killer, Vickrum Digwa, lied to police that he had been the victim of a racist attack by Mr Nowak, when in fact he had fatally stabbed the 18-year-old.
Family's Outrage and Formal Complaints
IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell said: “We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to Henry’s family and friends. Our investigators met with Henry’s family earlier this month where we were able to discuss our investigation with them in depth, now that criminal proceedings have concluded. We are obliged to constantly review the evidence obtained throughout our investigations and assess any indications of potential misconduct for officers involved. As a result, two officers will now face gross misconduct investigations. There is clear evidence that public confidence in the force may have been seriously harmed by this incident, and that is a factor we must consider when assessing the evidence. The serving of gross misconduct notices does not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow. At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings.”
The IOPC said it had expanded its investigation following discussions with Mr Nowak’s family, who have lodged formal complaints about the force.
Public Outrage and Racial Bias Concerns
The case sparked outrage and protests when Digwa was jailed for life for murder in May, with Hampshire Police facing accusations that officers had failed to listen to Mr Nowak because he was white. Investigators from the IOPC are looking at whether the race or religion of Digwa, who is Sikh, or Mr Nowak impacted on the decisions made, and whether officers “were influenced by assumptions or prejudice relating to community tensions at the time”.
When Digwa was sentenced, Mr Nowak’s father Mark Nowak said the difference between the way the killer and his son were treated was “unbearable”. He told journalists: “His murderer… was afforded decency. He was believed. He was not handcuffed when arrested. He was not handcuffed when transported to the police station. As far as we understand, he was never handcuffed at all. And, as Vickrum Digwa himself told the court, while under arrest for Henry’s murder, police even took him to the kitchen so he could choose his food. The contrast is unbearable.”
