Eighteen-year-old Henry Nowak was stabbed multiple times in December 2025 in Southampton and was mortally wounded when police arrived at the scene [1, 2, 3]. Despite Nowak’s repeated pleas, including "I can't breathe" and telling officers he had been stabbed, police handcuffed him while he was dying [1, 4, 2, 3].

The attacker, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed to officers that Nowak had racially insulted him and that Digwa was the victim in the incident [1, 2, 3]. Digwa was sentenced on June 1 by Southampton Crown Court to at least 21 years in jail for the stabbing with a 21-centimeter ceremonial knife [1, 2, 3].

The police force referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to investigate the handcuffing of Nowak [1, 2, 3]. The release of bodycam footage on June 2 showing the dying student handcuffed ignited protests in Southampton [1, 2]. Demonstrators clashed with police, throwing bricks, stones, bottles and bins [1, 3].

The case has attracted attention from far-right figures including Tommy Robinson and Nigel Farage, who have criticized police and diversity policies, claiming anti-white bias. Robinson said police "treat white British people as second-rate citizens," while Farage called for an end to "anti-white prejudice" and diversity initiatives [1, 2, 3].

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the footage "harrowing" and said "there are serious questions for the police to answer," backing the IOPC investigation [1, 2, 3]. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned violence against police and those seeking "personal political profit from tragedy," warning that "those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law" [1, 3].

Henry Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, described the police treatment of his son as "shocking, inhumane and degrading," contrasting it with the decency afforded to the killer, who "was believed" by police [1, 3].

Elon Musk offered to help fund a private prosecution against the police over their handling of the case [2]. Meanwhile, Digwa was due to appear again in court on June 2 for weapons offenses alongside relatives [2].