In a moment that exposes a catastrophic failure of police judgment, Hampshire Police’s chief constable has formally apologised to Henry Nowak’s family after officers handcuffed and arrested the 18-year-old as he lay bleeding from a fatal stabbing.
Chief Constable Alexis Boon called it an “absolute tragedy” while acknowledging the family’s profound distress.
The fresh judicial angle emerges from yesterday’s sentencing of Nowak’s killer, Vickrum Digwa, to life imprisonment with a minimum 21-year tariff.
As courts delivered justice for the murder, the police apology revealed how the victim became falsely accused of racially aggravated assault while dying.
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones stated Henry was falsely accused as he lay dying on the ground while his attacker stood nearby denying the violence he inflicted.
Officers disbelieved Nowak when he repeatedly said he couldn’t breathe after being stabbed five times with a Sikh ceremonial knife in December 2025.
This case now forces a national conversation about religious exemptions allowing ceremonial daggers in public.
Commissioner Jones announced she will write to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer requesting immediate law review on bladed article exemptions.
In the UK, a major scandal has erupted over the killing of a young Polish man. Police believed the killer and arrested the victim
Footage from police bodycams shows a severely injured Henry Nowak, who repeatedly says “I’ve been stabbed” and “I can’t breathe,” being handcuffed… pic.twitter.com/WpPU1akOVx
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) June 2, 2026
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer criticised Nigel Farage for appealing for “rage” after the murder, especially as Henry’s family requested calm during protests that left 11 officers and a police dog injured.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation continues into how accusations of racism informed decision-making.
Families across Britain now watch whether this apology translates into systemic reform before another victim is misidentified while dying.
