Hampshire Police Chief Apologizes to Family of Dying Teenager Handcuffed and Arrested After Stabbing
The chief constable of Hampshire police has issued an apology to the family of Henry Nowak for the student being handcuffed and arrested as he lay dying. Chief Constable Alexis Boon told the BBC he was "distressed" by the bodycam footage, which shows the 18-year-old repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed and could not breathe. The police arrested the teenager after his murderer, Vickrum Digwa, had falsely claimed he had been racially abused by the victim.
Chief Constable’s Response and Apology
In an interview with the BBC, Chief Constable Boon said he was "distressed" by the footage, describing it as a "tragedy, an absolute tragedy" that is "very difficult to watch." Asked what he would say to the family, Boon replied: "I'm so sorry you've had to go through this." He reiterated an apology on behalf of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary for the way in which Henry had been handcuffed and arrested. Boon stated he was not going to resign over the matter and would not pre-judge the outcome of an investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) into the police response.
Details of the Incident and Police Actions
The bodycam footage shows Nowak lying on the floor after being stabbed four times, telling police he had been stabbed. One officer responded, "I don't think you have mate." The teenager was handcuffed and told officers "I can't breathe" before he died at the scene. Chief Constable Boon confirmed that one officer seen in the bodycam video has now left the force for an unrelated reason, and three others are no longer on front-line duties. The BBC has removed sound in parts of the video due to its distressing content.
Family’s Reaction and Political Fallout
Mark Nowak, Henry's father, said the family would carry their grief "every single day for the rest of their lives" and described it as "unbearable" to see how his son had been treated by police compared to his killer. He added: "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension." The case has sparked widespread condemnation. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused Nigel Farage of exploiting the death to create "grievance and division" after the Reform UK leader suggested the public should react with "pure cold rage" and accused the police of "two-tier policing." Chief Constable Boon said he did not recognize that term, telling the BBC he sees officers "day in, day out" doing their job for all communities.
Judicial and Institutional Developments
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on Monday for the murder, which occurred on 3 December when Nowak was walking home after a night out with his football teammates. Judge William Mousley stated at the trial that Digwa had brought shame upon his family and his religion. Digwa's mother, Kiran Jaur, 53, was also found guilty of assisting an offender after she tried to hide the murder weapon. On Wednesday afternoon, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones told the BBC she had spoken to the victim's family, saying they had called for calm. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) is examining whether a document of "anti-racism commitments" and guidance needs changing. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said there had been "multiple failures," and in the Commons, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said "police appeared more concerned with the accusation of racism" than "helping Henry."
Context
The case echoes other incidents where police actions during emergency responses have been scrutinized, including instances of officers handcuffing individuals in medical distress. In 2022, a similar controversy arose in the United Kingdom when a man suffering a heart attack was handcuffed by police before paramedics could treat him, prompting an IOPC investigation and policy reviews. The Independent Office of Police Conduct continues to investigate the circumstances of the police response in Nowak's death.