Title: PM Highlights 'Serious Questions' for Police Following Henry Nowak Arrest Video

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that the release of body-worn camera footage from the arrest of Henry Nowak’s killer has prompted "serious questions for police." The video captures the moments after 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 21 years, for stabbing the 18-year-old Southampton university student with a 21cm (8in) blade. Digwa had claimed the weapon was part of his Sikh faith.

In the harrowing footage, Nowak is seen handcuffed and repeatedly telling officers, "I can't breathe," after Digwa falsely alleged he was the victim of a racist attack. Sir Keir described the video as "really harrowing," admitting he "felt sick" while watching it. He emphasized that authorities must address how "accusations of racism informed decision making" during the incident.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that an investigation into the force’s actions is currently underway. While Sir Keir acknowledged the importance of allowing the IOPC to complete their initial work, he did not rule out the possibility of a broader inquiry, stating, "I'm not saying there shouldn't be a wider inquiry. Of course I'm not."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood addressed the House of Commons, warning against a "dangerous undercurrent" in public reactions to the crime, which has led to threats against individuals. She revealed that a police officer had been forced to relocate his family after being incorrectly identified online as being involved in the case. Mahmood cautioned opposition MPs against politicizing the tragedy.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage expressed a sense of "cold rage" regarding the treatment of Nowak, describing the incident as evidence of a "two-tier Britain." He argued that "a false accusation of racism counted higher at that moment than someone that was dying." Similarly, shadow home secretary Chris Philp noted in a Commons statement that the police seemed "more concerned with the accusation of racism… than they were with helping Henry."

Responding to broader allegations of preferential treatment, Mahmood reaffirmed that British police have a "sacred duty to police without fear or favour" and that everyone is equal before the law. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman added that there is "no such thing as two-tier policing." Meanwhile, Labour MP and Sikh Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi accused Reform UK and other far-right groups of scapegoating the Sikh community based on the actions of a single murderer.

The attorney general’s office is currently reviewing the sentence given to Digwa under the unduly lenient sentence (ULS) scheme, following "multiple requests" for a review. Although current law provides a legal defense for practicing Sikhs to wear a small, curved blade, known as a kirpan, for religious purposes, Digwa’s weapon was significantly larger. While he wore a traditional kirpan underneath his clothes, he carried the murder weapon in a sheath on top of his clothing.

Digwa’s family issued an apology to Nowak’s relatives and for bringing "disrepute" to the Sikh community. An unnamed family member stated, "We love Vickrum. We will continue to love him. That love does not stand in opposition to the sorrow we feel for the Nowak family. Both are real, and both will remain with us for the rest of our lives."

During her address, Mahmood echoed the prosecutor’s assertion that "This is not a case about Sikhism, this is not a case about racism, this is a case about murder." Nowak’s family, who described his treatment by police as "inhumane and degrading," also cited this quote. The police force has apologized for its handling of the situation. Henry’s father, Mark, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting, "Henry told officers that he could not breathe nine times. He told them that he had been stabbed four times."

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-02 18:29:35 UTC