Henry Nowak police chief apologises to Henry Nowak’s family for arrest

The chief constable of the force that arrested Henry Nowak has apologised after his officers handcuffed the teenager over false racism claims while he lay dying on the ground. 

Alexis Boon, head of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, added he doesn’t ‘recognise’ allegations of two-tier policing, insisting Mr Nowak was not treated differently because of his race. 

It comes as police are poised for further clashes after 11 officers and a dog were injured during riots in Southampton last night, sparked by the treatment of the student. 

Public anger was ignited by bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing the 18-year-old as he bled to death, having just been stabbed six times by 23-year-old Sikh stranger Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed to be a victim of racism. 

Speaking about the murder for the first time since Digwa was jailed for 21 years on Monday, Mr Boon said: ‘What was filmed there is a tragedy, an absolute tragedy, and you can’t help but be affected by it.

‘I am clear we are sorry for handcuffing and arresting Henry, but I don’t know if that is cutting through for people. We understand it and are genuinely sorry.’      

He acknowledged the teen’s parents’ concerns that their son died without ‘dignity’, but added: ‘I don’t accept the term of two-tier policing, I don’t recognise it.

‘I see officers and staff out there day in, day out working incredibly hard to deliver for all our communities. I just don’t recognise the concept.’

Alexis Boon (pictured today), head of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, said he doesn’t ‘recognise’ allegations of two-tier policing after Henry Nowak’s murder 

Police bodycam footage shows innocent Mr Nowak, 18, being forced into handcuffs by officers after he was stabbed repeatedly by a knife-obsessed Sikh man 

Vickrum Digwa is seen lying to police as he tells them Mr Nowak ripped off his turban in a racist attack. He also points to his eye, claiming it was injured by the teenager

Riot police armed with plastic shields face off with protesters in Southampton last night 

A police officer remonstrates with a protester in Southampton city centre yesterday 

Mr Boon continued: ‘I really feel for the family of Henry at this time. I understand their point of view and why they’re upset with the police.’ 

He said, however, that a ‘furore’ has been ‘whipped up’ in the aftermath of Digwa’s sentencing that led to violent disorder in Southampton, adding: ‘I think everyone would condemn what happened last night.’

The police chief said the incident is under investigation by the police watchdog, and urged people not to ‘make assumptions’ while all the evidence is being considered. 

Hampshire Constabulary today increased patrols in Southampton and warned of further arrests following the ‘unacceptable scenes’ last night, which saw thugs pelting officers with glass bottles. 

Mr Nowak’s case has also prompted a political row as ‘two-tier’ guidance treating white people differently to ethnic minorities was blamed for the way officers responded. 

The teenager was stabbed six times by Digwa, who lied to officers that Mr Nowak had shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban. The student repeatedly told officers ‘I can’t breathe’ before his death.

Kemi Badenoch insisted the incident must be a ‘wake up call’ today – as forces were urged to scrap ‘two-tier’ policing rules. The Tory leader said ‘every life matters’ as she demanded change during a tense session of Prime Minister’s Questions. 

Nigel Farage also intervened in the Commons this afternoon, saying ‘two-tier’ policing could not continue. Amid barracking from Labour MPs, he warned that rioting in Southampton ‘is in danger of getting worse’ unless the Government acts. 

But Sir Keir Starmer said there was ‘no justification’ for the ‘disgraceful’ violence – and pointed the finger at Mr Farage for urging the public to display ‘cold rage’. The premier suggested the Reform leader only ‘pretended to respect’ the family of Mr Nowak, who have pleaded for people not to politicise the murder.

Sir Keir said he did not believe there was ‘two-tier policing’ in the UK. 

The Conservatives and Reform UK are adamant that Mr Nowak’s treatment was influenced by police guidance around racial bias.  

Under a so-called Anti-Racism Commitment published last year, policing leaders say that ‘racial equity’ should not mean ‘treating everyone the same or being colour blind’. 

Instead they say their goal is to produce ‘equality of policing outcomes’ by ending the racial disparity in the ‘likelihood of people being criminalised’.

The commitment is part of a multi-million pound Police Race Action Plan launched in 2022 following the killing of George Floyd in America ‘to improve trust and confidence in policing among Black communities’ in the UK.

Glass bottles and bins were thrown at lines of riot police 

Mr Nowak was a finance student at the University of Southampton and was described as ‘kind and talented’ 

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) has since vowed to review the guidance, which the policing minister today accepted was ‘wrong’. 

Sarah Jones told Sky News it was important to be ‘mindful of the fact that there has been a history of racism in policing’ but she said of the commitment: ‘I think this document is wrong.’ 

But Parm Sandhu, director of the London Policing College and the first and only Sikh chief superintendent in the Metropolitan Police, rejected accusations of a two-tier approach and accused politicians of ‘politicising’ the tragedy. 

‘Police officers do not go to work and think they are going to treat black or white people differently,’ she told BBC Radio 4. ‘They go to work and they deal with emergency situations where they have to make fast life or death decisions. 

‘In this case they’ve made a tragic mistake. But they do not base those decisions on the skin colour of the individuals in front of them.’ 

More than 1,000 demonstrators descended on Southampton Central police station just before 6pm yesterday. 

Protesters shouted ‘I can’t breathe’ and held banners reading ‘protect our kids’, but rioting soon broke out as thugs pelted officers with wheelie bins, flares and beer cans.

In the House this afternoon, Sir Keir said there were ‘serious questions to answer’ about the police response and the watchdog must ‘get to the bottom’ of what happened.

That included ‘how accusations of racism informed police thinking’.

Mrs Badenoch said the case ‘must be a wake up call to the entire country and our institutions that every life matters’. 

Mr Farage said: ‘Following the horrendous circumstances of Henry Nowak’s death, can I urge the Prime Minister to consider this: it is now clear to growing millions in this country that we are living under two-tier policing.

‘The instructions that are given to police officers from police bosses are clear and written down in ink. It says you must treat different ethnic groups in different ways.

‘Apart from the upset and the anger at the circumstances of his death, the anger that you saw spilling out in Southampton last night, which is in danger of getting considerably worse…

‘If the public lose trust in being treated fairly by the police, can he (Sir Keir) take some action, end this divisive practice of two-tier policing, and make sure that all British citizens are treated the same?’

But Sir Keir said: ‘I don’t believe there’s two-tier policing in this country. I’m really shocked that he pretends to have respect for Henry’s family and then acts in this way.

‘The grieving family have asked us not to respond in the way that the leader of Reform has responded. They’ve asked us not to. They have lost their son in the most appalling circumstance. They make a simple plea of us as human beings to please not exploit that. That is their plea to us.

‘We all need to reflect on those words of Henry’s father. My response, and the response of others to be fair, has been focused on the lessons to be learned, so we can deliver justice.

‘His (Mr Farage’s) response has been to appeal for rage, rage. That’s his response to a father who has lost his son and asked for that not to happen.

‘Exploiting this tragedy to create grievance and division would be wrong in any circumstances, but to do it when the family are expressly saying ‘please don’t’ is unforgivable. It shows exactly who he is.’

Writing in the Daily Mail today, Mrs Badenoch said Mr Nowak’s murder was a ‘seminal moment’ in the fight against racism. 

The Tory leader compared the stabbing of the 18-year-old university student to the murder of Stephen Lawrence 33 years ago.

Mrs Badenoch said that, just like Stephen’s shocking killing in 1993, Mr Nowak’s death at the hands of an assailant who lied about claims of racism needs to be a turning point.

Mr Farage said the police response showed that an ‘accusation of a racial slur was treated more seriously than an act of murder’.

The Reform UK leader added: ‘Remember the reaction to [George Floyd] and the way the police behaved?

‘Within a few days Keir Starmer was taking the knee, Black Lives Matter, it exploded all over the country, Churchill’s statue was defaced, the Cenotaph was vandalised.

‘And yet what has the public reaction been from our leaders and politicians and indeed to be frank much of the media to this? Silence, absolute silence.

‘Proof, if ever there was any, that we’re living in a two-tier culture in this country where the rights and privileges of white people matter less than those of ethnic minorities.’

Promising to review the Race Action plan, NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said: ‘We are listening to legitimate concerns about how some of these commitments are worded or phrased, and where needed we can and will make changes, but this should not detract from the intent, which is to improve the quality of policing.’

But Ms Sandhu defended the policy as necessary in a diverse society. 

She said: ‘The guidance on racism is more about teaching people to understand different cultures. It doesn’t say you treat people differently.

‘It says take into account different cultures because if you’re dealing with somebody who is deaf, blind, because it doesn’t cater to skin colour. If you are dealing with someone who is deaf or blind.’

She added: ‘I do not accept that there is two-tier policing in this country. I do not accept that police officers go to work thinking I am going to watch a young person bleed out.’

And speaking about calls for Britain to end the religious exemption for carrying a blade, she said: ‘You should not say that all Sikhs shouldn’t carry the kirpan because of what this individual has done in this case. And he did not use the kirpan.’

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood branded last night’s violence ‘completely unacceptable’, writing on social media: ‘The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension.

‘There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.’

She added: ‘I thank the police who have tonight shown great bravery and calm in the face of disgraceful violence directed at them.’

It comes as Hampshire Police yesterday confirmed that one of the officers involved in Mr Nowak’s arrest had resigned.

Three of the officers involved are still serving, the force added, while all four are being treated as witnesses in an investigation by the police watchdog.

Earlier, a different officer received death threats and was ‘forced to relocate’ after being wrongly identified online as being involved in the case, Ms Mahmood said. 

The officer had to relocate for the safety and security of his family, the Home Secretary told the House of Commons.

Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on Monday for stabbing Mr Nowak six times with a religious blade he was carrying. 

A day later, demonstrators arrived in Southampton holding pictures and banners, with clips shared online showing crowds carrying Union flags descending upon the police station.

A large police presence was put in place outside the station, with officers forming a blockade. 

In a video posted on social media, far-Right activist Tommy Robinson described the footage of Mr Nowak’s arrest as ‘horrific’ while calling on supporters to attend the protest. 

Robinson, Right-wing commentator Laurence Fox and UKIP leader Nick Tenconi were among those who stood at the steps of the police station as speeches were delivered to the crowd. 

The Lord’s prayer was said twice, while Robinson argued that ‘white people are treated like second-rate citizens’ in his speech.  

In one chant, hundreds of people shouted ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe’ in reference to what Mr Nowak told police as he lay dying on the ground. 

Tenconi told the crowd: ‘Hampshire police must sack and arrest the arresting officers.

‘They must publicly take the knee for Henry Nowak.’

A fire rages behind a line of riot police as officers clashed with protesters in Southampton

More than 1,000 demonstrators attended last night’s protest, many of whom carried Union flags  

A police helicopter hovered overhead as officers were pelted with stones

A protester who covered his face throws a bin at police during violent clashes 

Police dog handlers stand behind the line of officers near Portswood police station in Southampton

Protesters in Southampton before the gathering turned violent  

An image issued by the Crown Prosecution Service shows the eight-inch ceremonial dagger used by Digwa

Digwa’s father Moga Singh (left) attempted to hide his face as he appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court yesterday alongside his son Gurpreet Digwa

Sikh man Kulwinder Singh, a 47-year-old taxi driver from Southampton, welcomed the protest and those who were marching.

He said: ‘I’m part of the Sikh faith so I welcome them. They are my brothers and sisters. I’m not worried at all, they’re welcome at the Gurdwara [Sikh temple].

‘It’s nothing to do with the faith. We should keep people together.’ Mr Singh shook hands with protesters as they marched.

Jamie Smith, from Southampton, said: ‘I am here for Henry.

‘I saw the video online when he was handcuffed and dragged on the floor after being stabbed and I want the police to be held accountable.’ 

At nearby Portswood police station, demonstrators were seen throwing glass bottles at police cars. 

Later in the evening, protesters chased riot squad police officers and launched wheelie bins at them.

Around a dozen officers were verbally abused and pelted with objects including beer cans. 

Protesters forced the blockade of officers back 20 metres as they charged at them.

One incident saw crowds hurl a flare at police before others stormed at them while shouting: ‘Justice for Henry.’ 

Activist Rebekah Warne said: ‘I’m here because I fear for the safety of my child.

‘He’s ten and I worry for his future. He’ll be 20 in ten years and he’ll have to defend himself.

‘The streets scare me now as a woman. I can protect myself but it scares me for my son. Something needs to change.’ 

Sir Keir said the footage of Mr Nowak’s arrest made him ‘feel sick’ as he warned officers have ‘serious questions’ to answer over their treatment of the teen – adding it is ‘absolutely right’ that the police watchdog is investigating how officers handled the case. 

Earlier yesterday, while giving a statement in the House of Commons, Ms Mahmood warned of a ‘dangerous undercurrent’ of threats against the police.

She continued: ‘Threats against police officers are utterly unacceptable. There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse or attempts to take the law into one’s own hands. 

‘A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subjected to death threats. He has been forced to relocate to protect himself and his family.

‘Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must all, together, condemn it.’

She added that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) will report on the case within three months. 

Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘We know there has been significant commentary following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa yesterday afternoon, and we recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night.

‘However, what we cannot accept is the significant spread of misinformation online by those intent of causing further fear and division by making threats to officers and sharing names that are simply not true.’ 

Protesters wave flags outside Southampton Central police station at 6pm yesterday

Demonstrators later began a march through the centre of the city while chanting ‘I can’t breathe’ 

Footage appeared to show crowds trying to storm the station as officers formed a blockade outside

Hampshire Police Federation also called for an end to ‘mob or vigilante justice against officers’ as the backlash over the case grew. 

Footage released on Monday night shows officers pulling Mr Nowak along the ground as he begs for help, telling them he cannot breathe at least seven times before he is put in handcuffs. 

The student died from drowning in his own blood shortly after his wrongful arrest, Southampton Crown Court heard.

Following the case, the UK Sikh Federation stressed the blade was not consistent with the Kirpan, a small, curved blade which many Sikhs wear close to their person. While it is legal for them to carry the weapon for religious reasons, it is deemed an offensive weapon if it is drawn in an act of aggression.

Judge William Mousley KC said he was ‘sure’ Mr Nowak never said anything racist to the murderer. He also referred to medical evidence suggesting his injuries were ‘not survivable’ even if he had received first aid straight away. 

Mr Nowak’s father Mark, speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, said: ‘We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension.’ 

Earlier, a spokesman for Hampshire Police Federation said: ‘The murder of Henry Nowak was a tragedy, our thoughts are with his family and friends.

‘The officers’ actions that night are subject to rigorous independent scrutiny and we must let that process run its course.

‘The Police Federation condemns in the strongest possible terms the calls for mob or vigilante justice against officers we have seen in recent days.

‘That has included police officers being wrongly identified as being involved in the incident and personal details such as home address being widely published.

‘We call on politicians of all parties and media commentators to be more responsible in their comments – and allow due process for the officers involved to ensue.

Digwa lied to police at the scene, telling officers Mr Nowak had not been stabbed and had instead attack him

‘As a staff association we are supporting all Hampshire Police officers and we urge all our members to take appropriate action online and offline to stay safe.’

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has apologised for arresting Mr Nowak minutes before his death. 

It comes after Sir Keir told the Cabinet that an investigation into the police response must be carried out ‘as quickly as possible’.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said he paid tribute to ‘kind, thoughtful and much-loved’ Mr Nowak, whose life was ‘ripped away in the most appalling circumstances’. 

IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: ‘Our thoughts and sympathies remain with everyone affected by Henry Nowak’s tragic death.

‘Our independent investigation into the contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers had with Mr Nowak immediately prior to his death on December 4, including the use of handcuffs by officers and the first aid provided, remains ongoing.

‘Our investigation began following a mandatory referral from the force, which we received the same day.

‘We acknowledge that this case has raised questions about the actions of the attending officers and we are aware that a few minutes of police body worn footage has been issued by the force following the conclusion of criminal proceedings.

‘As part of our ongoing investigation we are reviewing a large amount of police body worn footage, which we need to consider in context with other evidence we have obtained, including reviewing material presented during the murder trial, as we establish the full circumstances.

‘Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, we are planning to meet with Mr Nowak’s family and provide them with updates about our investigation.

‘The officers involved are currently being treated as witnesses, however as with all investigations, this is kept under review throughout.’