Henry Nowak murder: Officer misidentified and receives 'death threats' after Vickrum Digwa case

Hampshire police has criticised the rampant spread of ‘disinformation’ after a police officer was misidentified as being involved in the Henry Nowak murder case.

The force confirmed that an individual has received death threats after being misidentified online and connected to the high-profile investigation. This comes following an announcement from home secretary Shabana Mahmood in the House of Commons this afternoon (June 2).

Henry Nowak, 18, was handcuffed by Hampshire police officers as he lay dying from stab wounds in Southampton in December 2025. Harrowing body worn footage has been released by the force in which Henry can be heard telling them that he has been stabbed, but he was ignored.

The attacker, Vickrum Digwa, was found guilty of murder at Southampton Crown Court and was given a life sentence - minimum of 21 years. Court heard the 23-year-old Sikh was carrying a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade. The judge added that Digwa stabbed the back of Mr Nowak’s legs twice and once in the heart. Digwa lied to police and told them he was racially abused by Mr Nowak, punched by him, and had his turban knocked off.

He also lied to police and said he never stabbed Mr Nowak despite the student’s pleas for help at the officers. He was placed in handcuffs moments before he collapsed, and became unconscious before dying despite the efforts of first aid.

Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the handling of the case, and the officers are being treated as witnesses at this stage. They are examining a large amount of body-worn video as well as material presented during the trial of murderer Vickrum Digwa.

During this period, speculation has run wild on social media, resulting in death threats being sent to an officer unrelated to the case. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said: “We know there has been significant commentary following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa yesterday afternoon, and we recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night.

“However, what we cannot accept is the significant spread of misinformation online by those intent of causing further fear and division by making threats to officers and sharing names that are simply not true. A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subject to death threats.

“The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing its independent investigation into our response on the night in question, following our self-referral the next day. While that progresses, we ask that people avoid harmful speculation online.”

Henry’s father Mark Nowak, speaking after Digwa was sentenced on Monday, said that officers involved in the case are still on duty, and one was allowed to resign before they had given a full account to the IOPC. He added: “We believe the officers involved remain on duty although we understand some may since have resigned. One was allowed to leave the force before she had given an account to the Independent Office of Police Conduct of what happened that evening.”

Comparing the treatment of his son with that of his killer, Mr Nowak told journalists: “His murderer, however, was afforded decency. He was believed. He was not handcuffed when arrested. He was not handcuffed when transported to the police station. As far as we understand, he was never handcuffed at all. And, as Vickrum Digwa himself told the court, while under arrest for Henry’s murder, police even took him to the kitchen so he could choose his food. The contrast is unbearable.”

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Mr Nowak latter added that he did not want his son’s death “to be used to create further division, hatred or tension”, but Reform UK leader Nigel Farage proceeded to call for people to respond with “pure cold rage” over Mr Nowak’s treatment, which he said was evidence of a “two-tier culture”. Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Nowak’s family “don’t want this whipped up” and “Nigel Farage is completely wrong to use this to try and create division”.

Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has asked His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to conduct an urgent inspection into the matters arising from the murder of Henry Nowak. She requested the inspectorate to examine the culture and performance of the control room and its ability to communicate critical threat information to officers on the ground.

Alongside this, she called for frontline officer training to be examined when responding to knife crime incidents, including the application of immediate first aid. The adequacy of that training will be reviewed, and how officers are taught to triage competing accounts at the scene of a violent incident. Specifically, whether the provision of immediate medical assistance is treated as an unconditional duty that operates independently of any assessment of culpability.

PCC Donna Jones said: “It is a matter of the gravest concern that officers arrived at the scene of a fatal stabbing without adequate information about what they were walking into. Henry died on a street in Southampton, handcuffed, having told police officers on multiple occasions that he had been stabbed and that he could not breathe.

“He was not believed. He was not treated as a victim. Those words should have triggered an immediate and urgent medical response. Understanding why and ensuring it never happens again is a matter of the most serious national importance. For that reason I am formally commissioning this inspection under my powers as PCC according to the Police Act 1996.

“The review will not interfere with ongoing IOPC investigation, and I expect it to be conducted quickly and thoroughly. Henry’s family deserve answers and the public deserves reassurance that the police are trained to serve without fear or favour.”