Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to take “whatever action is required to right the wrongs” in the case of murdered student Henry Nowak, following a private meeting with his family in Downing Street. The Prime Minister described the encounter as “profoundly humbling” and said the 18-year-old “deserves a legacy that goes beyond this awful tragedy”.
Meeting with the Family
During the Thursday afternoon meeting, Starmer spoke with Henry’s father Mark Nowak, stepmother Katie Woodcock, and mother Lucy Ross. The Prime Minister said he was moved to learn more about Henry’s kindness, warmth, and love of football, and expressed his commitment to preventing other families from suffering a similar loss.
“There are difficult questions that need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry’s murder,” Starmer stated. “The Independent Office for Police Conduct are investigating. We will be unflinching in taking whatever action is required to right the wrongs in this case.”
Political Fallout
The case has sparked a political row over the treatment of Henry by police, who handcuffed him as he lay dying after being stabbed, ignoring his pleas that he could not breathe. Violent protests erupted near the scene of the stabbing, with nearly a dozen officers injured in clashes with demonstrators on Tuesday.
Starmer previously urged politicians not to use the case “to cause disturbances” and branded Nigel Farage’s response “unforgiveable”. The Reform UK leader hit back, insisting he condemns “all violence” and has agreed to meet Henry’s family. Farage told GB News: “Of course I condemn all violence. I always have… I’ve never, in 35 years of being in politics, advocated people going outside the law.”
Calls for Unity
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also met with Henry’s mother, father, and stepmother on Thursday morning, stressing that the family “do not want anger to tear communities apart”. Starmer echoed this sentiment, saying: “It is our duty now to ensure that lessons are learned, that justice is delivered and that we choose unity and progress over division and hatred. This is the only way to honour Henry’s memory.”
Henry’s killer, Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years for stabbing the teenager with a ceremonial knife carrying a 21cm blade, which he carried as part of his Sikh religion. The case continues to raise questions about police conduct and community relations.
