Hampshire Constabulary

UK police officers face gross misconduct investigation after arresting an 18-year-old stabbing victim, Henry Nowak, as he lay dying in December 2025. The incident in Southampton involved body-worn video footage showing Nowak being handcuffed while stating he could not breathe; the suspect, Vickrum Digwa, who is Sikh, falsely claimed a racist attack by Nowak, who was white. The investigation examines potential breaches of police conduct standards and whether race or religion influenced the officers’ decision-making, with Nowak’s death being used by far-right activists to claim bias against white people in the justice system.

Six more people have been charged with violent disorder in Southampton following riots after the sentencing of a man for the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak. The total number of charges now stands at 11.

English police faced criticism after handcuffing an 18-year-old stabbing victim who later died, following the attacker's claim of racial assault. The incident sparked public outrage and debates over policing practices, with calls for transparency regarding body-worn camera footage.