UK police handcuffed dying Polish student Henry Nowak over false racism claim; murderer jailed for life

The attack and false accusation

On 3 December 2025, 18-year-old Polish student Henry Nowak was walking home in Southampton when Vickrum Digwa, 23, stabbed him five times with a large knife. One wound pierced Nowak's heart. Digwa, a Sikh, was carrying a 21cm ceremonial dagger known as a kirpan. When police arrived, Digwa claimed that Nowak had racially abused him, knocked his turban off and injured his eye. Officers believed him and handcuffed the bleeding teenager, ignoring his cries that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. Body-worn camera footage released on 2 June 2026 shows an officer telling Nowak, "I don't think you have, mate."

Police bodycam reveals fatal delay

The footage shows Nowak, bleeding heavily, telling officers four times that he had been stabbed and nine times that he could not breathe. Despite his obvious distress, police arrested him for racially aggravated assault. They did not call an ambulance until several minutes later. Nowak collapsed and died soon after. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the officers' actions. Hampshire police later apologised. Temporary deputy chief constable Robert France said he regretted that Nowak was handcuffed, but described the situation as "exceptionally complex".

I am sorry that Henry was arrested and handcuffed.

Sentencing and family's anguish

A jury at Southampton Crown Court found Digwa guilty of murder on 28 May 2026. His defence that he acted in self-defence was rejected; prosecutors described his racism claim as a "wicked lie". On 1 June, Judge William Mousley sentenced him to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years. The judge said he was certain Nowak had said nothing racist.

I am certain that Henry did not say anything racist.

Nowak's father, Mark, wept as he read his victim impact statement outside court. He said the family holds Digwa "solely and 100 per cent responsible", but that his son's treatment by police was "inhumane and degrading". He noted that Digwa was not handcuffed and was even allowed to choose his food while in custody. He called on the government to treat knife crime as a national emergency and to ensure the IOPC has the resources for a thorough investigation.

The way he was treated was inhumane and degrading. Henry did not die with dignity. He did not die with the care he deserved.

Political reaction and the knife debate

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the case as "terrible and shocking" and said it was "right that the IOPC is investigating". Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds called the bodycam footage "absolutely harrowing". Meanwhile, Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, posted an angry video on X, blaming "political correctness" and saying that "all the values and standards of living in a free country... have been destroyed and thrown away".

All the values and standards of living in a free country, in which everyone is equally judged before the law, have been destroyed and thrown away.

Hampshire police and crime commissioner Donna Jones called the murder a "national tragedy" and announced she would write to the prime minister requesting a review of religious exemptions for carrying knives. She said the fact that Digwa was able to carry a blade in public under the Sikh exemption was "central to this incident". However, Nick Thomas-Symonds indicated no such review was planned, arguing that the law already criminalises the use of such weapons. The Sikh Federation stated that the weapon used by Digwa "was not a kirpan", the ceremonial dagger permitted for baptised Sikhs.

The weapon used by Digwa was not a kirpan.

Nowak's family also demanded stronger action on knife sales and ownership, calling for a ban on openly carrying 21cm blades. They pledged to continue campaigning to prevent "any other family" from experiencing such heartbreak.