Henry Nowak cop quits police after ‘don’t suppose you’ve got mate’ bodycam outrage
Hampshire Police have confirmed that one of the four cops, who attended the scene where student Henry Nowak was arrested after being stabbed, has quite the force
One of the four cops who attended the incident involving the stabbing of Henry Nowak has quit the force, Hampshire Police has confirmed.
Bodycam footage of Nowak being arrested while in a pool of blood has sparked outrage following the release of the clip yesterday (June 1).
The killer of finance student Nowak, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, lied to police attending the scene of the stabbing in Southampton on December 3 in 2025 that he had been the victim of a racist attack.
In body-worn camera footage from the incident, Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
Hampshire Police has now confirmed the resignation of one of the officers involved as three others are currently still serving. The force also stated that the all the officers are being treated as “witnesses” and subject to no restrictions.
A spokesperson said: “Three of the officers are still serving, one officer has resigned. As the IOPC has confirmed, they are all being treated as witnesses, so not subject to any current restrictions.”
Sir Keir Starmer has said he “felt sick” watching footage of police handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying, and that there are “serious questions” to answer about the case. The police watchdog is expected to report on the case within the next three months.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said investigators are examining a large amount of body-worn video as well as material presented during Digwa’s trial.
Sir Keir said: “It is absolutely right that the IOPC are looking at this. There are clearly serious questions that need to be addressed, not least how accusations of racism informed the decision-making in this case.”
Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade prosecutors said was a kirpan, which he carried as part of his Sikh religion.
Nowak’s father Mark speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, said: “We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.”
But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said people should respond with “pure cold rage” to Mr Nowak’s treatment, which he said was evidence of a “two-tier culture”.
Nowak was “actually treated in a way that meant an accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder”, Farage said.
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