Southampton protest after Henry Nowak homicide as lots of collect at police station
Henry Nowak was stabbed to death by Vickrum Digwa as bodycam footage of the incident has sparked protests after police arrested the wounded student in Southampton
Hundreds of protestors were seen outside Southampton Central Police Station(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Hundreds of people have protested outside Southampton Central Police Station over the officers who arrested murder victim Henry Nowak.
Crowds blocked the street chanted the last words of Nowak “I can’t breathe” as dozens of officers were seen among the crowd of people as far-right activist Tommy Robinson also attended.
Nowak, 18, was murdered by Vickrum Digwa, 23, who lied to police at the scene of the 2025 stabbing by claiming he had been the victim of a racist attack.
Police bodycam footage shows Nowak pleading with police, telling them he couldn’t breathe multiple times. An officer is then heard saying “I don’t think you have mate” in response.
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.
Protesters waved flags and held placards with one saying “Henry Nowak, We want justice”, another stated “Save our kids” and another “Safety is a right not a privilege”.
One woman held a sign saying “Not racist just a worried mum”. A minute’s silence was held for Mr Nowak followed by applause.
A surge of people pushed towards the line of officers before speakers began as cries for calm saw the crowd pull back.
Addressing the crowd, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race. Because he (Mr Nowak) was white he was handcuffed.
“Even after they found out he (Digwa) had stabbed him five times, they still didn’t handcuff him.
“A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”
Another speaker called for Hampshire Constabulary to “sack and prosecute” the officers involved and pay compensation to Nowak’s family.
The protests come after one of the four cops who attended the incident involving the stabbing of Nowak has quit the force, Hampshire Police has confirmed.
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.”
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