Southampton protests over Henry Nowak murder spark arrests and police scrutiny

Henry Nowak, an 18‑year‑old finance student from Essex, was fatally stabbed on 3 December 2025 in Southampton. The 23‑year‑old killer, Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years after claiming a false racist attack.

Body‑camera footage released in June 2026 showed Nowak being handcuffed while repeatedly saying, “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe”. The video triggered public outrage and a protest on 2 June 2026 in Southampton. Hundreds to over a thousand demonstrators gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station, chanting “Henry” and “I can’t breathe”. A minority of protesters, including far‑right figures Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox, addressed the crowd.

Clashes turned violent as bottles, bricks, chairs, wheelie bins and flares were thrown at riot police. Eleven officers and a police dog were injured. Two people were arrested for assaulting police and possessing a weapon. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and policing minister Sarah Jones condemned the disorder as “unacceptable”. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the police handling of the case, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council announced a review of its anti‑racism guidance. The incident has sparked a wider political debate, with Labour, Reform UK and other parties weighing in on policing policy.