Starmer condemns handling of Henry Nowak death as Southampton protests grow

More than 1,000 people have protested in Southampton after the release of police body-worn camera footage showing 18-year-old student Henry Nowak handcuffed while he lay dying from stab wounds. The footage has prompted anger over the police response to the attack and renewed calls for an independent investigation. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said there were "serious questions" to be addressed after watching the video.

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Mr Nowak died after a knife attack in Southampton in southern England last December. According to the footage described by police, he is heard saying "I've been stabbed" and "I can't breathe" while an officer replies, "I don't think you have, mate." Starmer said he "felt sick" watching the video and said the case raised questions about how accusations of racism influenced decision-making. The killer, Vickrum Digwa, a 23-year-old Sikh man, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday local time after lying to police at the scene that Mr Nowak had assaulted him.

The row has now moved beyond the courtroom and into the political arena, with the Independent Office for Police Conduct examining the conduct of the officers involved. The prime minister said it was right that the watchdog was looking into the case. The incident has become significant because it combines a fatal street stabbing, disputed claims made at the scene, and concerns about how officers responded to a dying victim.

It has also triggered a public reaction in Southampton, where protesters marched through the city centre towards the scene of the crime. In a country where confidence in policing is closely tied to public trust, the release of the footage has intensified scrutiny of how officers assess information in fast-moving and potentially volatile situations. The case also carries wider political weight because it has drawn in the prime minister directly.

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Starmer described Mr Nowak as a "kind, thoughtful, and much-loved young man" and said the death had been devastating for his parents, family and others who knew him. His comments suggest the government is under pressure to show that the police response will be examined thoroughly and independently. The killing took place in Southampton last December, but the sentencing and release of the footage have brought the case back into public view.

The protests indicate that the handling of the aftermath is now part of the story, not only the original stabbing. The focus on the allegation of a racist attack also raises questions about how such claims can shape immediate police judgments at a scene. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is now reviewing the officers' conduct, and that process is likely to be central to what happens next.

It remains unclear what conclusions the watchdog will reach, whether any disciplinary action will follow, and how the police will respond to criticism of the handcuffing. What to watch next is whether the investigation leads to further official findings and whether the protests continue as more details emerge.

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