Henry Nowak (left) and Vickrum Digwa (right)
The chief constable of Hampshire police has apologised to the family of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed and arrested by officers moments before he died after being fatally stabbed by 23-year-old Indian-origin Sikh man Vickrum Singh Digwa in Southampton last December.Chief Constable Alexis Boon told BBC that he was “sorry” for the way officers treated the teenager and acknowledged the distress caused by bodycam footage that showed Nowak repeatedly telling police he had been stabbed and could not breathe.”What was filmed there is a tragedy, an absolute tragedy. You can’t help but be affected by it. It’s very difficult to watch. I really feel for the family of Henry at this time,” Boon told the broadcaster.”I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through this,” he added, reiterating an apology on behalf of the force for Nowak being handcuffed and arrested as he lay dying.The apology came days after 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for murdering Nowak.Digwa had falsely claimed that the teenager had racially abused him and knocked off his turban, leading officers to initially treat Nowak as a suspect rather than a victim. A video widely shared on social media after the trial showed the final moments before Nowak’s death. In the footage, the teenager can be seen lying on the ground while officers handcuff him and attempt to sit him up. He repeatedly tells police that he has been stabbed and struggles to breathe. “You’ve been stabbed? Whereabouts?” one officer is heard asking. Another responds: “Don’t think you have, mate.”Nowak can also be heard saying, “I can’t breathe,” while officers continue questioning him. Police later realised the severity of his injuries, removed the handcuffs and began CPR, but he died at the scene.The fatal stabbing took place as Nowak was walking home after a night out with friends on December 3. Digwa attacked him with a large kirpan, a ceremonial article of faith in Sikhism.During the trial, the court heard that Digwa then attempted to portray himself as the victim by falsely accusing Nowak of a racially aggravated assault.Despite rising criticism, Boon said he would not resign and would await the outcome of an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).He confirmed that one officer seen in the bodycam footage has since left the force for unrelated reasons, while three others are no longer on frontline duties.The handling of the incident has sparked widespread outrage across the UK. Public anger intensified after the release of the bodycam footage, with critics accusing police of failing to properly assess the situation and prioritising Digwa’s allegations over Nowak’s pleas for help.The controversy also sparked protests in Southampton. Two people were arrested and 11 police officers and one police dog were injured after demonstrators clashed with police near the site of the fatal stabbing.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined local MPs in condemning the violence, while Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones said Nowak’s family were “disappointed” by the scenes.Jones described the teenager’s death as a “national tragedy”, saying Digwa’s false allegations were part of a deliberate attempt to frame himself as the victim.Nowak’s father, Mark Nowak, requested people not to use his son’s death to inflame racial or religious tensions. Following the sentencing, he said the family hoped the tragedy would lead to safer streets but warned against creating “further division, hatred or tension”.
