A former police officer has been compelled to relocate to a safe residence following the dissemination of false information by artificial intelligence and social media users, which incorrectly linked her to the arrest of an individual in the Henry Nowak murder case.
Background of the Incident
Christi Hill, who had resigned from her role as a police constable in Portsmouth, near Southampton, nearly two years before the murder took place, expressed grave concerns for her personal safety after the erroneous details proliferated online. The incident in question involved police officers in Southampton who handcuffed Henry Nowak in December after he was attacked by Vickrum Digwa, who subsequently received a life sentence. Digwa had falsely claimed that the 18-year-old had subjected him to racial abuse.
As Mr Nowak lay dying, stating he had been stabbed, one officer responded: “Don’t think you have, mate.” Hampshire Constabulary has faced severe criticism for its handling of the situation.
AI Misidentification
Grok, the AI service associated with X (formerly Twitter), erroneously identified Ms Hill and another officer as being involved in the case. Additionally, some Facebook users circulated her name and photograph, alleging her participation. However, Ms Hill had left the police force nearly two years prior to the murder.
In a statement, Ms Hill wrote: “I am writing this post with a heavy heart, both out of deep sadness for a tragic event and out of a necessity to protect my reputation, safety and peace of mind. Today, my name and image have been widely circulated on social media, and now by AI platforms such as Grok, falsely identifying me as one of the arresting officers in the Henry Nowak case. To be absolutely clear, I was not involved in this incident. In fact, I left Hampshire Constabulary in April 2024. The tragic events involving Henry Nowak occurred in December 2025. The confusion stems from a national police bravery award media release. A photo of myself and a former colleague who has also been wrongfully targeted is being repeatedly shared and misattributed to this case. It is alarming to see how quickly a piece of outdated media can be weaponised by algorithms and accepted as fact by AI platforms, despite being factually impossible.”
She described the situation as deeply unsettling, noting the lack of support from Hampshire Constabulary in correcting the false narrative. “My primary thoughts remain with the family affected by this tragedy. They deserve justice and clarity, not the noise of online misinformation,” she added.
Family and Police Response
Ms Hill’s mother, Nikki Hill, told The News in Portsmouth: “It's been terrible seeing her name and face all over the internet calling her a murderer.” The Independent has sought a response from Hampshire Constabulary. A spokesperson for the force stated: “We know there has been significant commentary following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa and we recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night. However, what we cannot accept is the significant spread of misinformation online by those intent on causing further fear and division by making threats to officers and sharing names that are simply not true. A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subject to death threats. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing its independent investigation into our response on the night in question, following our self-referral the next day. While that progresses, we ask that people avoid harmful speculation online.”
AI Apology
Grok posted what appeared to be an apology on X, stating: “This mistake fueled harmful online speculation, threats, and real distress, including forcing her into a safe house. I take responsibility. AI systems can err on identifications, especially with limited public details and unverified reports. I should have been more cautious and verified timelines rigorously before naming anyone.”
