Henry Nowak would have hated riots after his murder, says family
The family of Henry Nowak, a teenager who was fatally stabbed in Southampton last year, stated in an interview that he would have hated the riots that followed his death. Relatives accused certain politicians of playing a political game with the murder. The case has also prompted an independent review commissioned by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and an ongoing investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Key points
- Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed in Southampton last year by Vickrum Digwa.
- Nowak's parents stated he would have hated the riots that followed and accused politicians of playing a game with his death.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood commissioned an independent review led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police response to the stabbing.
What happened
Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed in Southampton last year by Vickrum Digwa, after which he was handcuffed by police while lying dying following a false accusation of racial abuse by his attacker. In the weeks following his death, demonstrations took place in Southampton involving groups such as Ukip, Britain First, and the National Rebirth party, following social media calls and an address by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage demanding a response.
Speaking in an ITV Tonight documentary titled Dear Henry: Our Fight for Justice, Nowak's mother, Lucy Ross, and father, Mark Nowak, criticized the political response to the killing. Ross stated that she felt people tried to use her son's death to advance wider political arguments, adding that she is not interested in political games.
Who said what
Lucy Ross told ITV that she wanted to know why her son was treated the way he was on the floor while another family was treated differently. Mark Nowak stated that his son was not a divisive person and that the political response did not align with their family values.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told ITV that she was moved by the family's dignity and confirmed she is committed to ensuring they get answers regarding the case.
Context
The Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed its investigation into potential failures in the police response is expected to conclude early next year. An initial April letter from the watchdog indicated no officers faced disciplinary proceedings at that time, but the IOPC announced in July that two officers are under investigation for potential gross misconduct.
In addition to the watchdog inquiry, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood commissioned an independent review led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk to examine potential missed opportunities by authorities to intervene.
What happens next
The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation into the police response is expected to wrap up early next year, while the independent review led by Alex Chalk continues to examine the handling of the case.
Why it matters
The family of Henry Nowak criticized politicians for playing a political game with his murder, as an independent review and police watchdog investigations continue into the authorities' handling of the case.
What we know
- Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed in Southampton last year by Vickrum Digwa.
- Nigel Farage delivered an emergency address calling for a public response and demanding an end to two-tier policing following the incident.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood commissioned an independent review led by Alex Chalk.
- The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating potential gross misconduct by two officers in the police response.
What remains unclear
- Whether the IOPC investigation will find actionable failures in the police response.
- The final findings and recommendations of the independent review led by Alex Chalk.
