The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has announced that two police officers are facing a formal investigation for potential gross misconduct following the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak. Nowak was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton in December 2025 using a large blade. Following the attack, Digwa lied to responding officers, falsely claiming that he was the victim of a racist assault. Digwa was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment in June, with a minimum term of 21 years.
According to the IOPC, evidence suggests that the first two officers to arrive at the scene may have failed to adhere to professional standards. The investigation is focusing on potential lapses in recognizing that Nowak required urgent medical assistance, as well as the decision to handcuff and arrest him rather than providing immediate first aid. Watchdog officials indicated that one officer might also have breached standards regarding authority, respect, and courtesy for allegedly dismissing the victim after he mentioned he had been stabbed. It was recently revealed that it took responding officers eight minutes to discover the severity of Nowak’s fatal wound.
Derrick Campbell, the IOPC director of engagement, confirmed that investigators had met with the family of the victim to discuss the inquiry, now that the criminal trial has concluded. While noting that the issuance of gross misconduct notices does not automatically lead to disciplinary proceedings, Campbell emphasized that the incident had potentially harmed public confidence in the police force. The watchdog has expanded its probe to include a broader examination of the actions taken by the officers at the scene, as well as the conduct of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary control room staff regarding call handling and information sharing.
The investigation will specifically look at whether the race or religion of Nowak or the Digwa family influenced police decision-making, or if assumptions regarding community tensions played a role. At the time of the incident, Southampton had been the site of anti-immigration protests and counter-demonstrations. The family of the victim has filed formal complaints regarding the disparity in treatment between Nowak and his murderer, with his father, Mark Nowak, having previously described the police response as “inhumane and degrading” compared to the “decency” shown to the attacker.
Hampshire police has issued an apology to the family for the handling of the incident. The watchdog stated it will share its findings with both the family and the police force before finalizing any disciplinary decisions. Meanwhile, in response to protests that occurred in June following the release of bodycam footage, leaders in the Sikh community have called for peace. The Attorney General’s office is currently reviewing Digwa’s sentence, and a full inquest into the death of Henry Nowak is scheduled for next year in Winchester.
