British police are facing growing scrutiny after bodycam footage showed officers handcuffing an 18-year-old student as he lay dying from stab wounds following a knife attack in Southampton, southern England.
Henry Nowak died after being stabbed in December 2025. His attacker, 23-year-old Vickrum Digwa, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday after a court found he had falsely claimed that Nowak had assaulted him in a racist attack.
The footage, released after the conclusion of court proceedings, shows Nowak telling officers he had been stabbed and struggling to breathe. Officers initially treated him as a suspect after Digwa alleged that his turban had been knocked off and that he had been attacked.
The case has prompted public protests and political debate across the UK. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the footage as deeply disturbing and called for accountability, while government ministers said the handling of the incident had raised serious questions.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the actions of the officers involved. Hampshire Police have apologised for their handling of the incident, and one officer present at the scene has resigned.
The killing and the police response have fuelled a wider national debate about policing, race and public trust in law enforcement. Political figures, including Nigel Farage, have criticised the actions of officers, while government officials have called for calm and warned against using the case to inflame divisions.
Digwa received a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years. Authorities are also reviewing whether the sentence should be increased.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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