Newly released police bodycam footage has intensified scrutiny of Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary after officers handcuffed 18-year-old University of Southampton finance student Henry Nowak, who repeatedly told them he had been stabbed and could not breathe before dying on a Southampton street on December 3, 2025 [1]. The footage, released Monday following the murder conviction of 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, shows Nowak pleading for help while an officer responded, 'I don’t think you have, mate' [1].
According to court proceedings, police handcuffed Nowak after Digwa claimed he had been the victim of a racist assault. Reuters reported that officers later removed the handcuffs and attempted CPR after realizing Nowak had suffered serious stab wounds [1]. Digwa was sentenced Monday to life in prison for murdering Nowak with a 21-centimeter blade described as a Sikh kirpan-style weapon [1].
The case has sparked political backlash in Britain and renewed debate over policing, race, and knife crime. Mark Nowak, Henry's father, stated that his son pleaded for help before losing consciousness and criticized the police response as 'inhumane and degrading,' while holding Digwa 'solely and 100% responsible' for his son's death [1].
Political figures have weighed in, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stating the case showed 'the fear of being called racist was greater than dealing with Henry Nowak’s murder,' and Reform UK MP Robert Jenrick calling for the release of bodycam footage and accusing authorities of prioritizing allegations of racism over saving Nowak’s life [1]. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the killing as 'an awful, shocking case' and supported an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the police response [1]. The police force previously apologized after the conviction [1].
CONCLUSION
The release of bodycam footage has fueled public and political backlash over the police response to Henry Nowak's fatal stabbing, with criticism focused on the officers' actions and broader issues of policing and race. The case has prompted calls for accountability and an official investigation, while the convicted attacker, Vickrum Digwa, received a life sentence.