Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Southampton central police station on Saturday to demonstrate over the murder of Henry Nowak, with dozens clashing with officers near the home of his killer, Vickrum Digwa. The far-right activist Tommy Robinson addressed the crowd at the 'Justice for Henry Nowak' protest, which saw chants of 'Racist police, off our streets' and 'Shame on you'. Demonstrators held union flags and signs reading 'Henry's blood is on your hands' and 'Save our kids'.
A few hundred then marched to the area where the murder took place, but police blocked them from entering the street where Digwa's family lives. Some protesters threw bottles, beer cans and wheelie bins at officers. A police helicopter hovered overhead as officers with shields attempted to push the crowd back. At Portswood police station, glass bottles were thrown at police cars.
After Digwa was jailed, Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, condemned the 'inhumane and degrading' treatment of his son by police but urged: 'We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone.' Tommy Robinson accused Hampshire police of institutional racism, saying: 'If Henry wasn't white, he wouldn't have been handcuffed.' He added: 'A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn't.'
Nick Tenconi, leader of the UK Independence Party, led a prayer for Nowak and said: 'The arresting officers believed persecuting him was more important than saving him because he was white.' The actor and right-wing commentator Laurence Fox attended, claiming 4,000 people were present, though others estimated 1,000. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned the scenes as 'completely unacceptable', warning: 'Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.'
