Policeman ‘receives death threats’ after being wrongly identified as Henry Nowak officer

A police officer and his family have had to flee their home after he was wrongly named on social media as being involved in the Henry Nowak case, the home secretary has revealed.

Shabana Mahmood told MPs in the Commons today that misinformation and inflammatory commentary were making the troubling case even worse.

She said: ‘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, and we must also allow the facts to be established to the appropriate investigations and the courts, and we must do so calmly and responsibly.’

Earlier, Hampshire Police Federation condemned calls for ‘vigilante justice’ against the officers involved.

Mr Nowak, 18, was handcuffed by Hampshire Police officers as he lay dying from stab wounds in Southampton on December 4, after his killer Vickrum Digwa, 23, lied that he was drunk and had launched a racist attack.

Harrowing body worn footage has been released by the force in which Henry can be heard telling them that he has been stabbed, but he is ignored and told by one: ‘I don’t think you have, mate.’

He is then placed in handcuffs while repeatedly telling officers: ‘I can’t breathe.’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called for ‘pure cold rage’ over the disturbing case, which has sparked widespread criticism, including on social media.

Mr Farage said the treatment of Mr Nowak was evidence of a ‘two-tier culture’.

Mr Nowak was ‘actually treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder’.

He said he had asked the attorney general to review the life sentence with a minimum of 21 years given to Digwa as being unduly lenient.

Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the handling of the case, but it has said officers are being treated as witnesses at this stage.

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.

‘As a staff association we are supporting all Hampshire Police officers and we urge all our members to take appropriate action online and offline to stay safe.’
Investigators from the IOPC said they will meet Mr Nowak’s family and keep them updated with their investigation.

They are examining a large amount of body-worn video as well as material presented during the trial of murderer Vickrum Digwa.

IOPC director Derrick Campbell said: ‘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.’

Henry’s father Mark Nowak, speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, said officers involved in the case are still on duty, and one was allowed to resign before they had given a full account to the IOPC.

He said: ‘We believe the officers involved remain on duty although we understand some may since have resigned.

‘One was allowed to leave the force before she had given an account to the Independent Office of Police Conduct of what happened that evening.’

It is understood the officer who resigned in January was not one of the two who arrived first at the scene. They provided an initial account to the IOPC but have not given a more detailed statement.

The other officers involved have all given full accounts.

Comparing the treatment of his son with that of his killer, Mr Nowak told journalists: ‘His murderer, however, was afforded decency. He was believed. He was not handcuffed when arrested. He was not handcuffed when transported to the police station. As far as we understand, he was never handcuffed at all.

‘And, as Vickrum Digwa himself told the court, while under arrest for Henry’s murder, police even took him to the kitchen so he could choose his food.

‘The contrast is unbearable.’