A police officer involved in the case of murdered Henry Nowak has resigned, Hampshire Police has confirmed. Three of the officers involved are still serving, the force added, while all four are being treated as witnesses in an investigation by the police watchdog.
Background of the Incident
Mr Nowak, 18, begged officers to call an ambulance after being knifed six times by knife-obsessed stranger Vickrum Digwa, 23, who used an eight-inch ceremonial dagger to murder the teen in Southampton city centre last December. Digwa did not know the teenager, but told a 'wicked lie' about him to the first officers on the scene, claiming Mr Nowak shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban. The injured student was then arrested by police as he lay dying on the ground, drowning in his own blood.
Death Threats Against Officers
A different police officer had received death threats and was 'forced to relocate' after being wrongly identified online as being involved in the murder case, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. The officer had to relocate for the safety and security of his family, the Home Secretary told the House of Commons this afternoon.
Sentencing of the Murderer
Digwa was yesterday jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing Mr Nowak six times with a religious blade he was carrying in Southampton. At the scene, Digwa lied to police and told them Mr Nowak had racially abused him and knocked off his turban. The teenager was then placed in handcuffs as he lay dying and pleading with officers, telling them 'I can't breathe' and 'I've been stabbed'.
IOPC Investigation
The case has been referred to the IOPC, with calls for the officers involved to be investigated. The IOPC said today they are being treated as 'witnesses'. Giving a statement in the House of Commons this afternoon, Ms Mahmood warned of a 'dangerous undercurrent' of threats against the police. She continued: 'Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one's own hands. A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family. Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must all, together, condemn it.' She added that the IOPC will report on the case within three months.
Police Federation Response
Hampshire Police Federation has also called for an end to 'mob or vigilante justice against officers' amid backlash over the case. The killing of Mr Nowak in Southampton city centre last December has sparked outrage across the country, after bodycam footage captured the university student begging officers at the scene to call an ambulance. Digwa, who was a stranger to Mr Nowak, told a 'wicked lie' about him to the first officers on the scene, claiming Mr Nowak shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban. The injured student was then arrested as he lay dying on the ground. Newly released footage shows the teenager saying four times, 'I've been stabbed', to which one policeman replies, 'I don't think you have mate'. Officers pull Mr Nowak along the ground as he continues to beg for help, telling them he cannot breathe at least seven times before he is ordered to place his hands in the cuffs. The student died from drowning in his own blood shortly after his wrongful arrest, Southampton Crown Court heard. Digwa, who told officers at the scene Mr Nowak had not been stabbed, used an eight-inch ceremonial dagger to carry out the murder.
Community and Political Reaction
Following the case, the UK Sikh Federation stressed this blade was not consistent with the Kirpan, a small, curved blade which many Sikhs wear close to their person. While it is legal for them to carry the weapon for religious reasons, it is deemed an offensive weapon if it is drawn in an act of aggression. Judge William Mousley KC said he was 'sure' Mr Nowak never said anything racist to the murderer. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Mr Nowak was 'treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder'. He said the last thing Mr Nowak heard on this Earth was being read his rights by officers as he lay dying on a pavement in handcuffs. Mr Farage called for 'pure cold rage' over the case, which has also been widely criticised after he claimed the case suggests a 'two tier' approach to policing in the UK. Mr Nowak's father Mark, speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, said: 'We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.'
Ongoing Scrutiny
Earlier, a spokesperson for Hampshire Police Federation said: 'The murder of Henry Nowak was a tragedy, our thoughts are with his family and friends. The officers' actions that night are subject to rigorous independent scrutiny and we must let that process run its course. The Police Federation condemns in the strongest possible terms the calls for mob or vigilante justice against officers we have seen in recent days. That has included police officers being wrongly identified as being involved in the incident and personal details such as home address being widely published. We call on politicians of all parties and media commentators to be more responsible in their comments - and allow due process for the officers involved to ensue.' Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has apologised for arresting Mr Nowak minutes before his death.
It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the Cabinet that an investigation into the police response must be carried out 'as quickly as possible'. Sir Keir's official spokesman said he paid tribute to 'kind, thoughtful and much-loved' Mr Nowak, whose life was 'ripped away in the most appalling circumstances'. IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said today: 'Our thoughts and sympathies remain with everyone affected by Henry Nowak's tragic death. Our independent investigation into the contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers had with Mr Nowak immediately prior to his death on 4 December, including the use of handcuffs by officers and the first aid provided, remains ongoing. Our investigation began following a mandatory referral from the force, which we received the same day. We acknowledge that this case has raised questions about the actions of the attending officers and we are aware that a few minutes of police body worn footage has been issued by the force following the conclusion of criminal proceedings. As part of our ongoing investigation we are reviewing a large amount of police body worn footage, which we need to consider in context with other evidence we have obtained, including reviewing material presented during the murder trial, as we establish the full circumstances. Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, we are planning to meet with Mr Nowak's family and provide them with updates about our investigation. The officers involved are currently being treated as witnesses, however as with all investigations, this is kept under review throughout.'
