The UK government has declared an independent review into the events surrounding the murder of teenager Henry Nowak, assessing whether police could have acted to prevent his death at the hands of Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh man, in December.
In response to allegations of biased policing, the Home Office announced on Tuesday that they would initiate a review to investigate how Digwa managed to fatally stab the 18-year-old university student and if the police on scene responded appropriately.
When police arrived, after Digwa had used a ceremonial Sikh knife to stab Nowak, there were reports of officers taking misleading statements from Digwa and his family—who concealed the weapon—claiming the victim had used racial slurs. Tragically, the pleas from Nowak were largely disregarded, and he was even handcuffed as he fought for breath. One officer reportedly told him, “You’ve been stabbed? Don’t think you have, mate.”
Despite it taking officers eight minutes to recognize that Nowak had been stabbed, Hampshire Police later asserted that the severity of his injuries made it impossible for them to save him. Nonetheless, the department publicly apologized earlier this year for handcuffing Nowak as he bled. Interestingly, they did not handcuff Digwa during the four days he spent in custody before facing charges related to Nowak’s death.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced on Monday that Alex Chalk, former Lord Chancellor, will oversee the independent review. This investigation aims to determine if there were missed opportunities to prevent Nowak’s murder, especially looking into Digwa’s history over the prior five years. A report is expected by next March, but it’s unclear when findings regarding the officers’ actions will be disclosed.
Mahmood commented on the review, expressing sorrow for the loss of an 18-year-old with a bright future. She noted the senseless nature of the crime and extended her thoughts to Nowak’s family and friends, who are grappling with profound grief.
She also commended the Nowak family for their resilience in seeking answers, pointing out that their case has raised crucial questions regarding the adequacy of preventive measures and the responses of authorities afterward.
“We will thoroughly investigate to find those answers. I appreciate Alex Chalk for leading this important task; he will approach this with the seriousness it demands,” she added.
The Nowak family expressed relief about the review, stating that this announcement represents a significant step in their pursuit of justice.
They shared their struggles with the emotional impact of seeking the truth regarding Henry’s death.
“We are hopeful this review will reveal the full story and lead to accountability and substantial changes. Our experience within the criminal justice system has been disheartening, and we want to ensure no other family goes through what we have,” they conveyed.
“While this is a meaningful advance, there’s still a long journey ahead. We won’t cease fighting until we secure the answers and changes that every family in this country deserves.”
Chalk also highlighted “serious issues” concerning whether local government and police addressed complaints about Digwa’s violent conduct before he attacked Nowak.
“My investigation will rigorously follow the evidence without bias and also reflect on how public authorities interacted with the Nowak family during their time of unimaginable grief. They deserve that transparency,” he stated.
However, skepticism remains among some, who believe the government might be attempting to diffuse the controversy with this lengthy review.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage remarked that the announced five-month timeframe for the review is unacceptable, implying that authorities wish for the public to move on and forget about the tragic murder.
