UK police face internal probe over mishandling of Henry Nowak stabbing

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has opened an investigation into two South ampton police officers for possible serious misconduct after they detained and handcuffed Henry Nowak instead of providing immediate medical aid. Nowak had been mortally stabbed by Sikh attacker Vikrum Digwa on 3 December 2025. The inquiry will examine whether the officers' actions were influenced by racial or religious bias and whether they breached professional standards on use of force and conduct. A video of the detention sparked several days of protests in Southampton in early June, with right‑ wing agitators and remarks from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accusing the police of double standards. The IOPC noted that, despite the officers’ conduct, forensic evidence indicated that faster aid would not have saved Nowak’s life. Digwa was arrested the same night and later sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years, a sentence the government has appealed as too lenient. Additional trials are pending for Digwa’s father and brother on weapons charges.