Two police officers in Henry Nowak murder case face gross misconduct investigation
Two police officers involved in the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak are now under investigation for gross misconduct for failing to recognise he needed urgent medical attention after being stabbed.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched a gross misconduct investigation against two police officers in the case of Henry Nowak. Nowak, 18, died in December 2025 after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton. Digwa falsely told police he had been the victim of a racist attack, leading officers to handcuff Nowak and treat him as a suspect, despite him saying he had been stabbed and could not breathe.
Initially, the IOPC treated the officers as witnesses, believing there was no possible wrongdoing. On Wednesday, the watchdog said they had changed that view, in part following meetings with Nowak's family and their lawyer, and a formal complaint from the family. The IOPC said it would examine "whether the race or religion of either Henry or the Digwa family impacted on the actions and decision-making of the officers, whether officers’ decisions were influenced by assumptions or prejudice relating to community tensions at the time."
The investigation will also consider potential failures by the officers to recognise that Nowak needed urgent medical attention, to immediately act after he said he had been stabbed and couldn't breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff him instead of providing first aid. One officer may have breached standards of authority, respect and courtesy for appearing to dismiss Nowak's statement about being stabbed. The IOPC will also look at why Nowak was handcuffed while Digwa was not when he was arrested for attempted murder after police realised Nowak had been stabbed.
Digwa has been convicted of Nowak's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years. The sentence is being appealed by senior government law officers on the basis it is unduly lenient.
