British police officers who handcuffed and arrested an 18-year-old stabbing victim as he lay dying are under investigation for potential gross misconduct, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced Wednesday.
The two officers from Hampshire Constabulary were the first responders to the scene in Southampton in December 2025, where Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed. The investigation will examine whether the officers breached professional standards related to duties, responsibilities, use of force, and discreditable conduct.
Body-worn video footage showed Nowak, who was white, being handcuffed and telling officers he had been stabbed and could not breathe. The individual who stabbed Nowak, Vickrum Digwa, 23, a Sikh man, falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist assault.
Digwa was convicted of murder last month and sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison. His conviction was followed by violence in Southampton.
The IOPC stated that the investigation does not automatically mean disciplinary proceedings will follow. A decision on whether to pursue disciplinary action will be made after the investigation concludes. The watchdog is also examining whether race or religion influenced the officers' decision-making during the arrest.
Nowak's death and the circumstances of his arrest became a focal point for far-right activists and politicians who allege bias against white people within the justice system.