Police officers investigated for ‘gross misconduct’ after handcuffing Henry Nowak

Two Hampshire police officers are being investigated for potential gross misconduct after murdered student Henry Nowak was handcuffed in his final moments.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the officers are also being probed over their alleged failure to recognize the University of Southampton student needed urgent medical attention after he was stabbed by Vickrum Digwa.

The watchdog said: ‘There’s also an indication one of the officers may have breached the standard relating to authority, respect and courtesy, for appearing to dismiss Henry saying he had been stabbed.’

Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the 18-year-old’s murder. The sentence has since been referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Scheme.

After stabbing Henry, Digwa falsely claimed he was the victim of the attack. He claimed Henry had called him a ‘P***’ and knocked his turban off.

Harrowing bodycam footage showed the moment Henry appealed to officers for help as they arrested him.

Henry can be heard repeatedly saying: ‘I’ve been stabbed,’ and: ‘I can’t breathe.’

To this, an officer responds: ‘You’ve been stabbed? Whereabouts? I don’t think you have, mate.’

Digwa was also filmed by his victim, telling him: ‘I am a bad man’ just moments before the knife attack.

Henry suffered two stab wounds to the back of his legs and a fatal wound to his heart.

He was pronounced dead at the scene on December 4, 2025.

Chief Constable Alexis Boon, head of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, previously apologized to Henry’s family for his officers’ actions.

‘I want to say to [Henry’s] family, we understand, we get it, we know why they are so distraught and upset, which is why we made the apologies,’ he said.

‘It is a tragedy from start to finish and I’m really pleased to see that the killer was sentenced to life imprisonment.

‘Our officers conducted an investigation that resulted in that. I’m hopeful that is some degree of comfort for the families, but they will, as they have been saying, be dealing with this for the rest of their lives.

‘I’m very sorry they’re having to go through this and we do understand why they are upset with the police. We completely get it.’

Nigel Farage called for ‘pure, cold rage’ in response to Henry’s death, blaming it on a culture of ‘anti-white prejudice’ and ‘two-tier policing’ that, he claims, deprioritises white people.

He said in a video posted on social media: ‘We need a change in culture. Enough of anti-white prejudice.

‘A promotion of the idea that white lives matter just as much as black lives.’

Following the comments, riots erupted in Southampton following Digwa’s sentencing, leading to multiple arrests.

Protesters gathered outside Southampton Police Station before moving towards the killer’s house.

Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused the Reform UK leader of stoking division with his comments.

He said: ‘I start my answer to your question through the eyes of the family. They said they do not want this whipped up, they’ve been through the most extraordinary, awful experience.

‘They don’t want this whipped up, and Nigel Farage is completely wrong to use this to try and create division.

‘It would be wrong in any circumstances, but when Henry’s family are saying, “Please don’t do that, it’s our son,” then really, as politicians – as human beings, we should start where they start, and that’s where I start.’

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.