Two Hampshire police officers are being investigated for potential gross misconduct in connection with the arrest and handcuffing of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student who died after being stabbed in Southampton on 3 December last year.
Officers Ignored Pleas for Help
Henry Nowak, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was a first-year accountancy and finance student at the University of Southampton. He informed officers he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe following the attack by Vickrum Digwa, yet officers disregarded his pleas and failed to recognise he was fatally wounded. Henry was denied first aid and was instead restrained in handcuffs as he lay dying.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has now confirmed it has launched an inquiry into the behaviour of the officers and their alleged failure to acknowledge that the student required urgent medical attention.
Gross Misconduct Investigation
According to the IOPC, evidence indicates that the two officers may have potentially violated the professional behaviour standards of duties and responsibilities, use of force, and discreditable conduct. One of the officers is being investigated for potentially breaching conduct standards by dismissing the teenager's claim that he had been stabbed. The watchdog is additionally examining whether race or religion played a role in the officers' decision-making.
Henry's family has been notified of the decision to commence an investigation.
Background of the Incident
Vickrum Digwa, 23, was last month sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal assault, following which he told police a "wicked lie" that he had been the victim of a racist attack, a court heard. Henry's death ignited fierce demonstrations across Southampton following the release of police bodycam footage, which captured the dying teenager being placed in handcuffs. Several police officers sustained injuries during confrontations with protesters, with a minimum of 28 individuals arrested on a range of charges, including violent disorder, assaulting a police officer, and possessing an offensive weapon.
IOPC Statement
IOPC director of engagement Derrick Campbell said: "We continue to extend our deepest sympathies to Henry's family and friends. Our investigators met with Henry's family earlier this month where we were able to discuss our investigation with them in depth, now that criminal proceedings have concluded. We are obliged to constantly review the evidence obtained throughout our investigations and assess any indications of potential misconduct for officers involved. As a result, two officers will now face gross misconduct investigations."
He added: "There is clear evidence that public confidence in the force may have been seriously harmed by this incident, and that is a factor we must consider when assessing the evidence. The serving of gross misconduct notices does not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow. At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings."
