Two men have been charged following the disorder in Southampton in the wake of the sentencing of Henry Nowak’s murderer.
Matt Styler, 50, has been charged with assaulting a police officer and Daniel Frost, 44, has been charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon.
The city was rocked by violent protests on Tuesday evening which saw 11 police officers and a police dog injured.
The unrest came after Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed on Monday for a minimum of 21 years after he stabbed Henry to death last year.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police have come under intense scrutiny for their conduct after they handcuffed Henry and ignored his pleas that he had been stabbed and couldn’t breath.
Digwa had lied to police that he had been the victim of a racist attack at the hands of Henry.
The incident is now being investigated by the police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the Chief Constable of the force, Alexis Boon, has apologised to Henry’s family.
Despite Henry’s father, Mark Nowak, making a plea outside the court on Monday for his son’s murder not to be used to ‘create further hatred, division or tension’, hundreds of people descended on Southampton on Tuesday – including far-right activists such as Tommy Robinson.
Police clash with protesters in Southampton on Tuesday evening. Now, two men have been charged following the disorder
The protests in Southampton followed the murder of Henry Nowak (pictured) in December last year
The protest started outside Southampton Police Station before moving closer to Digwa’s family home where bins were set on fire and residents’ cars were vandalised.
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Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Sir Keir Starmer described the demonstrations as ‘disgraceful and completely unacceptable’.
The PM said: ‘Henry Nowak’s family have shown extraordinary dignity after their son’s life was stolen in appalling circumstances.
‘He was clearly a kind and thoughtful and much-loved young man.
‘There are serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking, and we are supporting the IOPC to get to the bottom of what happened.
‘But no matter the pain we feel, there is no justification for more violence and disorder. The attacks directed towards police officers in Southampton last night were disgraceful and completely unacceptable.’
Sir Keir added that anyone found to have been involved in the disorder would meet ‘the full force of the law’.
Styler of no fixed abode from Gosport, and Frost, of Northam Road in Southampton, will appear at Southampton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Vickrum Digwa (pictured), 23, was jailed on Monday for a minimum of 21 years after he stabbed Henry to death
Sophie Stevens, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS Wessex, said: ‘We have decided to prosecute Matt Styler with assault of an emergency worker.
‘Later our out of hours team CPS Direct also directed that Daniel Frost was charged with violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon – this followed an investigation into alleged offending following protests held in Southampton on Tuesday evening.
‘Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
‘We have worked closely with Hampshire Police as it has carried out its investigation.’
