Henry Nowak: Home secretary to give statement after officers put dying stab victim in handcuffs
Mahmood says Nowak’s family deserve answers as IOPC investigation continues – what you need to knowpublished at 16:35 BST
Image source, PA MediaImage caption,
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned against the spread of “misinformation” after a police officer – unrelated to the case – was misidentified and forced to re-locate
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Commons earlier that the family of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student who was murdered in December last year, deserve answers. Here’s a recap:
A brief reminder of the case
Shortly before he died on 3 December 2025, Nowak was handcuffed and arrested while he was telling police he had been stabbed and couldn’t breathe.
His killer, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa had lied to police at the scene, saying he had been the victim of a racist attack. On Monday, Digwa was sentenced to life in prison for the murder.
Mahmood described Nowak’s murder as “an act of pure evil” and called police bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing the 18-year-old “a disturbing and tragic thing to see”.
The police watchdog investigation
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), who are investigating Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s handling of the murder, today said the investigation remains ongoing.
It added the police officers called to the murder scene are being treated as witnesses, but that this will be kept under review.
The home secretary said this afternoon that the IOPC will be “encouraged” to find the truth and “if necessary, ensure there are consequences”.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp urged the IOPC to “urgently and transparently” report how police were “more concerned with the accusation of racism” than they were “in helping a dying man”.
Image source, HANDOUTImage caption,
Wider political reaction
Away from the Commons, Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the case “awful” and “shocking”, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the incident is evidence of a “two-tier culture” in Britain.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the case shows “something has gone horribly wrong with policing” and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called it an “evil murder made so much worse by the police response”.
