British police have released brief snippets of body camera footage capturing Henry Nowak’s last moments after being handcuffed by officers following a stabbing. Critics, including representatives from Reform UK, argue that the footage implies a racially biased response against white individuals.
This release came shortly after Vickram Digwa received a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years for murder. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police made the footage public late Monday night amid increasing demands for transparency regarding the events of that night.
The video shows just three minutes of police arriving at the scene, abruptly cutting off right when one officer makes eye contact with Nowak, the stabbing victim. This footage had been shared during the murder trial but hadn’t been made public until now.
As officers arrived at the suburban home, they found Nowak against a wall. Testimonies indicated a tense demeanor from the officers, particularly in their interactions with Digwa, the accused, and his family. One officer approached Nowak, asking for his name while he limped on the gravel surface.
With visible strain in his voice, Nowak repeatedly told the officers that he had been “stabbed.” Unfortunately, his pleas were largely ignored, until one officer retorted, “Did you get stabbed? Where were you? I don’t think they mated,” before rolling Nowak over and demanding he put his hands up to be cuffed.
In a part of the video that hadn’t been previously shared, a female officer asked Nowak, “Where do you think you were stabbed? In your face?” An onlooker then interjected, claiming Nowak was pretending to have been stabbed, to which the officer responds, “I know, but I’ll have to check.”
A male officer rolled Nowak, who remained silent, and stated, “What’s your name, buddy? Now you’re under arrest for assault. You don’t have to share anything that could be used against you in court…” He encountered more silence from Nowak, and the officer expressed concern that Nowak, who was in critical condition, might vomit. Another female officer pointed a flashlight at Nowak’s face, remarking that “the students aren’t even responding,” which concluded the video.
Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, spoke outside Southampton court today, criticizing the treatment of his son during his final moments. He felt that the police, who seemed to uncritically accept Digwa’s claims of racial abuse, treated Henry in a degrading manner. He stated:
mark nowak said the family “holds Vickram Digwa solely and 100 percent responsible for the brutal murder of our son,” but emphasized that his son “should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody. His treatment was inhuman and degrading.” He added that when Nowak lost consciousness, he was being read his rights by an officer.
Reflecting on his son’s tragic death while in handcuffs, he mentioned Henry had been stabbed multiple times. One officer’s comment was, “I don’t think you have any friends.” Rather than receiving proper care as a dying victim, the police instead arrested him for assault… Henry did not pass away with dignity nor receive the care he deserved. He lost consciousness before anyone took his words seriously.”
Mark Nowak also noted the contrast in treatment between his son and Digwa, mentioning that the latter seemed to receive a different handling by the police. “He was believed. He wasn’t even handcuffed upon arrest and was allowed to select food at the police station. The disparity is unacceptable,” he said.
This disturbing body camera footage has raised significant concerns regarding police training and has ignited outrage over perceived inequalities in policing. Nigel Farage, a prominent figure in the Reform party, described the footage as “the most shocking depiction of discrimination I’ve ever seen,” insisting that this situation must be a pivotal moment. He articulated, “White lives matter.”
Further commentary from Reform UK’s Justice Spokesman Robert Jenrick and Home Office Spokesperson Suella Braverman acknowledged a racial dimension to the police’s actions. Jenrick stated that Nowak was treated as a criminal rather than a victim, recalling that he pleaded, “I can’t breathe.” He lamented that, instead of aid, the police arrested him under false pretenses. “It’s tragic. It’s hard to deny he was treated differently due to his race,” he remarked.
Braverman called the footage “deeply shocking,” noting that the issue extends beyond just knife crime, addressing a broader failure in police training and conduct. She questioned, “Who is accountable for this scandal?”
Colin Sutton, a former homicide detective turned advisor for Reform, suggested that societal pressures impact policing, resulting in a two-tiered system marked by a focus on social media and intellectual trends that ignore serious crimes. “This brainwashing needs to be stopped,” he asserted.
