In December 2025, Britain’s Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood condemned protesters who attacked police in Southampton on Tuesday night, June 2, following the murder conviction of Vickrum Digwa, the man who stabbed 18-year-old student Henry Nowak to death. Police were pelted with chairs, cans, rocks and flares by some of the hundreds who attended the protest in the southern English coastal city. Two people were arrested and 11 officers and a police dog were injured, police said.
Digwa, 23, was convicted of murder and sentenced on Monday to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years. The judge said he did not believe Nowak had said anything racist to his attacker.
The case drew national attention after police released footage following the sentencing. The video showed officers dismissing Nowak when he told them he had been stabbed and repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe. Nowak was handcuffed as he lay dying, while Digwa — who had falsely told officers he was the victim of a racist assault — stood nearby.
Mahmood said Tuesday night’s disorder was entirely unacceptable. “The Nowak family made a powerful call to us all yesterday to not let Henry’s death be used to create further division, hatred or tension,” she said. “There can be no justification for hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder. Those responsible can expect to face the full force of the law.”
Hampshire Police Chief Constable Alexis Boon said he understood the public’s “desire for answers and accountability.” “But that must be done in the right way and not used as an excuse to threaten and intimidate my officers and bring violence to our streets, causing fear and harm to those living and working in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight,” he said.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed Parliament on Wednesday and said the case raised serious questions. He said the killing had left “serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking,” but called the street violence “disgraceful and completely unacceptable.”
The Nowak case has become a flashpoint for far-right political mobilisation in Britain. Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigration Reform UK party, said on Tuesday that the case was an example of so-called two-tier policing — a far-right talking point claiming ethnic minorities receive more favourable treatment than white people. Farage urged people to respond with “pure cold rage” and said “white lives matter just as much as Black lives.” X owner Elon Musk and British far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, also expressed outrage over the case.
Starmer rejected Farage’s characterisation of British policing entirely. “I don’t believe there’s two-tier policing in this country,” he told the House of Commons on Wednesday. “I’m really shocked that he pretends to have respect for Henry’s family and then acts in this way.” He said Farage’s “appeal for rage” was “unforgivable.”
Nowak’s father, Mark Nowak, urged restraint after the sentencing hearing. He said the case was not about racism or religion, and that he wanted his son’s death to lead to safer streets and not to be used to create “further division, hatred or tension.”
The political controversy has also drawn scrutiny to the use of ceremonial Sikh knives. Some politicians have called for Sikhs to be banned from carrying kirpans following the killing. The judge said Digwa had a small kirpan but also had an 8-inch (21-centimetre) sheathed Sikh dagger that was used as the murder weapon.
Regional and National Impact
Nowak’s death has triggered debates about policing and knife crime across Britain, and has spurred claims by far-right activists and politicians that there is bias against white people in the justice system. The disorder in Southampton drew comparisons to the riots that swept several English cities following the Southport stabbings in July 2024, when far-right groups attacked mosques and clashed with police after three children were murdered.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates allegations of police wrongdoing, is probing the actions of the officers from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. The National Police Chiefs’ Council said it will review its anti-racism guidance in the wake of the killing.
Background
Henry Nowak, 18, was stabbed in Southampton in December 2025. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, who is Sikh, falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist assault by Nowak, who was white. When officers arrived, they initially treated the wounded Nowak as a suspect before noticing his injury and attempting resuscitation. Digwa was tried for murder, and on Monday a judge sentenced him to life in prison. After the verdict, police released footage of the encounter that showed officers dismissing Nowak’s pleas. The video circulated widely online and prompted immediate protests.
What Happens Next
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is still looking into what Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary officers did. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has not finished their investigation, into Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary officers yet. The National Police Chiefs’ Council review of anti-racism guidance is expected to produce recommendations in the coming weeks, according to the Associated Press. Hampshire Police said they expect further scrutiny of how the initial response was handled. The government has stated that those responsible for Tuesday night’s violence will be prosecuted.
