Two British police officers are under investigation for gross misconduct after 18-year-old Henry Nowak was handcuffed and arrested while suffering from a fatal stab wound, an tragedy that sparked widespread public outrage and renewed debate over policing in the United Kingdom.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced Wednesday that it has opened misconduct investigations into the officers following complaints from Nowak’s family and the conclusion of the criminal case surrounding his death.
Nowak was fatally stabbed in Southampton in December 2025. Authorities later convicted 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa of the killing after prosecutors said he stabbed the teenager with a traditional Sikh blade.
Body camera footage released after the incident showed Nowak telling responding officers that he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe.
“I don’t think you have, mate,” one officer replied before Nowak was placed in handcuffs.
According to transcripts and body camera footage reviewed during the investigation, officers did not recognize that Nowak had sustained a stab wound for nearly eight minutes after arriving at the scene.
Additional footage also showed officers initially accepting Digwa’s claim that he had been the victim of racial abuse. While Nowak was restrained on the ground, Digwa was not immediately handcuffed.
The IOPC said its investigation will examine whether the officers failed to provide appropriate medical assistance and whether one officer breached professional standards by dismissing Nowak’s statement that he had been stabbed.
The investigation follows complaints from Nowak’s family, who decried the inhumane and degrading treatment during his final moments while his attacker was treated with greater consideration.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has previously apologized to the family for the officers’ handling of the incident, though it’s unlikely to surprise most readers that the family is seeking tangible penalties for the officers involved.
The case prompted protests in Southampton and drew national attention, with critics arguing the response reflected broader concerns about policing and why authorities treated a claim of racism as more important than a dying teenager.
Some political figures also weighed in. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage argued the incident reflected what he described as a culture influenced by diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and anti-white bias within policing. The IOPC said its investigation will examine whether race or religion played any role.
IOPC Director of Engagement Derrick Campbell said investigators met with Nowak’s family after the criminal proceedings concluded and determined the circumstances warranted further scrutiny.
“Two officers will now face gross misconduct investigations,” Campbell said. “There is clear evidence that public confidence in the force may have been seriously harmed by this incident, and that is a factor we must consider when assessing the evidence.”
Campbell emphasized that issuing gross misconduct notices does not automatically mean disciplinary action will follow.
“At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings,” he said.
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