Hundreds Clash With Police in Southampton After 18-Year-Old's Handcuffed Death Video Emerges
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Jun 2
Hundreds Clash With Police in Southampton After 18-Year-Old's Handcuffed Death Video Emerges
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Jun 2
Hundreds protested outside a Southampton police station on Tuesday, then marched toward the killing site and clashed with riot police, who retreated under a barrage of chairs, rocks and flares.
The unrest followed the release of video showing 18-year-old Henry Nowak handcuffed after saying he had been stabbed and could not breathe, and came a day after killer Vickrum Digwa received life with a minimum 21 years.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was sickened by the footage and questioned how racism allegations shaped police decisions, while the Home Office urged calm as the police watchdog investigates the officers' conduct.
Police said Digwa, 23, falsely claimed Nowak had racially attacked him; a judge rejected that account, and police later apologized to the family for not believing the victim.
The case has widened into a national argument over policing, race and knife crime, with officials warning that online misinformation and far-right rhetoric risk inflaming tensions further.
A killer’s lie ignited a racial firestorm. Can the UK protect communities from the fallout?
Will a teen's death in police custody finally force a radical overhaul of UK policing?
Life Sentence for Vickrum Digwa, Police Under Investigation: The Henry Nowak Murder and Its Impact on UK Policing
Overview
On December 3, 2025, Vickrum Digwa fatally stabbed Henry Nowak in Southampton and was later found carrying a knife in public. When police arrived, they handcuffed Nowak despite his desperate pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe, with an officer dismissing his injuries. Nowak collapsed, lost consciousness, and died alone while still handcuffed. Distressing bodycam footage of the police response was shown during Digwa’s trial, sparking public outrage and protests after its release. The incident led to a major investigation into police conduct and calls for accountability and reform.