UK police under pressure after dying student was handcuffed

UK police are facing significant pressure following the release of body camera footage showing officers handcuffing 18-year-old student Henry Nowak as he lay dying from stab wounds in December 2025. Despite Nowak repeatedly stating he had been stabbed and struggling to breathe, officers initially dismissed his claims, appearing to credit a false accusation of racist assault made by his killer, Vickrum Digwa.

This footage, released after Digwa's murder conviction and sentencing to at least 21 years in prison, has sparked widespread public outrage and raised serious concerns about police impartiality and conduct, including potential racial bias. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called the incident "harrowing," while Hampshire Police have issued an apology and referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for a comprehensive investigation.