UK watchdog probes police handling of murdered teen

MANCHESTER, England (CN) — Britain’s police watchdog said Wednesday it is investigating two police officers for potential gross misconduct over their handling of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who died after officers handcuffed him instead of treating him despite his repeated pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates serious complaints involving police forces in England and Wales, said the two officers who first arrived at the scene in Southampton on Dec. 3, 2025, may have breached professional standards.

Investigators said the officers may have failed to recognize Nowak needed urgent medical care, arrested and handcuffed him instead of providing first aid and appeared to dismiss his repeated pleas for help.

The announcement escalates the watchdog’s investigation following the conclusion of the murder trial of 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, who was convicted of stabbing Nowak to death and sentenced last month to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.

The case became one of Britain’s most politically charged policing incidents, sparking violent protests and criticism from senior U.S. officials after body camera footage showed officers mistakenly treating the dying teenager as a suspect while accepting Digwa’s account that he had been racially abused.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance blamed Nowak’s death on what he called the “mass invasion of migrants” despite Digwa being born in Britain, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used a speech marking the anniversary of D-Day to criticize European immigration policies more broadly.

Elon Musk repeatedly criticized the police response on X and offered to fund a private prosecution against the police, prompting Prime Minister Keir Starmer to accuse him of trying to “whip up division.”

Watchdog looks into police conduct

The watchdog said evidence suggested the officers “may have potentially breached the professional behavior standards of duties and responsibilities, use of force and discreditable conduct.”

Those concerns relate to “potential failures by the officers to recognize that Henry needed urgent medical attention, to immediately act after he said he had been stabbed and he couldn’t breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff Henry rather than provide immediate first aid,” the watchdog said.

It is also investigating whether one officer breached standards on “authority, respect and courtesy” by appearing to dismiss Nowak after he said he had been stabbed.

IOPC Director of Engagement Derrick Campbell said investigators had reviewed evidence gathered during the murder investigation and met with Nowak’s family after the trial concluded.

“We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to Henry’s family and friends,” 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.”

The watchdog also said it has expanded its investigation after formal complaints from Nowak’s family.

Investigators are also examining the first aid provided and the actions of police control room staff, including how emergency calls were handled and what information was passed to responding officers and ambulance crews.

The watchdog is also investigating whether the race or religion of either Nowak or Digwa’s family affected officers’ decisions, whether concerns about community tensions influenced police actions and complaints from Nowak’s family that he was treated differently from Digwa and members of his family after their arrests.

The investigation follows the release of body camera footage during Digwa’s trial showing Nowak repeatedly telling officers, “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe” after being attacked with a Sikh ceremonial knife carrying a 21-centimeter blade.

One officer responded: “You’ve been stabbed, whereabouts?” before adding, “Don’t think you have, mate.”

Minutes later, Nowak lost consciousness.

Calls for calm, calls for rage

Speaking outside court following Digwa’s sentencing in June, Nowak’s father, Mark, described police treatment of his son as “shocking” and called the police response “inhumane and degrading."

“We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension," Nowak’s father added. “We want his story to make our streets safer for everyone.”

Despite these calls, Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, called for “pure cold rage” and said the case demonstrated what he described as anti-white prejudice in policing.

Violent protests followed in Southampton.

Demonstrators first gathered outside the city center police station before crowds moved toward the Digwa family home.

Authorities have charged 28 people in connection with the disorder.

Several members of Digwa’s family are also due to appear in court in separate proceedings linked to the events surrounding the killing.

His mother, Kiran Kaur, has been convicted of “assisting an offender” by hiding the blade her son used and is due for sentencing on July 17 at Southampton Crown Court.

His father, Moga Singh, and brother, Gurpreet Digwa, are charged with multiple counts of possessing offensive weapons in private properties, with Gurpreet also charged with having offensive weapons in public spaces.

They are next to appear in court on July 9.

Courthouse News reporter James Francis Whitehead is based in England.

Follow @jayfranklinlive