British Police Face Scrutiny After Handcuffing Fatally Wounded Student

LONDON: British police are facing mounting criticism after newly released body-camera footage showed officers handcuffing an 18-year-old university student who repeatedly told them he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe before later dying from his injuries.

The case concerns Henry Nowak, a finance student in Southampton, who was fatally stabbed in December 2025. According to court findings, the attacker, Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed that Nowak had racially abused and assaulted him, leading responding officers to initially treat the wounded teenager as a suspect rather than a victim.

Body-camera footage released following Digwa’s conviction shows Nowak repeatedly telling officers that he had been stabbed and pleading for help. Despite his statements, officers handcuffed him and informed him that he was under arrest for assault while assessing the situation. Nowak later died from his injuries.

Digwa, 23, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years. The court heard that he used a large ceremonial blade in the attack and subsequently provided police with a false account of the incident.

The incident has sparked public outrage across the United Kingdom, with Nowak’s family condemning the police response and calling for greater accountability. The case has also prompted a formal investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the actions of the officers involved.

Hampshire Police has apologized for the handling of the incident, acknowledging shortcomings in the initial response while noting that an independent review is underway. The case has reignited debate over police procedures, knife crime, and the treatment of victims during emergency responses.