I’ve policed violent crimes – and one big problem still exists
The fear of being accused of racism hangs over many officers and can impact their judgement when arriving at the scene of a crime, police insiders have warned following the death of Henry Nowak[1]. Officers dealing with the knife attack on the 18-year-old student should have revised their approach and fully searched him for injuries from the moment he told them "I've been stabbed", they said. Two former Scotland Yard personnel, including an instructor in dealing with crime scenes, said bodycam footage showed the four Hampshire Police[2] officers who arrived at the aftermath of the assault had failed in their "duty of care and investigation" by not thoroughly examining Mr Nowak and immediately treating the incident as a potential life-threatening crime.
The former Met instructor suggested there were grounds for concern that inexperience may have been an issue and that efforts to tackle racial prejudice in policing had resulted in officers feeling "apprehension" when an allegation of racism is made at a crime scene. "It is potentially going to change their judgement or actions."
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WEATHER
Is the UK set for another hot summer?
Caption: People enjoy the hot weather on Bournemouth beach in Dorset. Monday is set to be the hottest bank Holiday on record, reaching "historic" temperatures of 34C in Greater London and south-east England. Picture date: Monday May 25, 2026.PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA WirePhotographer: Andrew MatthewsProvider: Andrew Matthews/PA WireSource: PA
The UK may see a warmer-than-average summer with the potential for more heatwaves, according to the Met Office as it revealed its long-range forecasts into the summer.
What do the forecasts say?
Caption: Sunbathers play in the sea and relax in the sunshine on Bournemouth beach on the south coast of England on May 26, 2026, as heatwave conditions spread to parts of southeast England and London. Britain registered on Tuesday its hottest-ever May temperature on record, with the mercury rising to 35C near the capital. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: JUSTIN TALLISProvider: AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFPCopyright: AFP or licensorsThe Met Office suggests "an increased chance of heatwaves and heat-related impacts" for the summer.
It comes after a late spring heatwave saw record-breaking temperatures across the UK.
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 26: Women relax on deckchairs in St James's Park on May 26, 2026 in London, England. The UK has recoded the hottest May temperature on record with a blistering 34.8??C registered at Kew Gardens. Overnight temperatures also reached a record-breaking 21.3??C, marking the country's first-ever spring "tropical night." This extreme heatwave has triggered Amber Heat-Health Alerts across central and southern England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)Photographer: Carl CourtProvider: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images Europe
Caption: FLAMBOROUGH, ENGLAND - MAY 26: Beachgoers enjoy the hot weather at Flamborough's North Landing beach on May 26, 2026 in Flamborough, England. The UK has recoded the hottest May temperature on record with a blistering 34.8??C registered at Kew Gardens.Overnight temperatures also reached a record-breaking 21.3??C, marking the country's first-ever spring "tropical night." This extreme heatwave has triggered Amber Heat-Health Alerts across central and southern England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)Photographer: Dan KitwoodProvider: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images EuropeCopyright: 2026 Getty Images
MeteoGroup - providers of BBC Weather data - said "above-average temperatures" are expected in June, July and August.
Is a drought expected?
MeteoGroup expects a drier period, although the Met Office suggests an average or potentially even wetter-than-normal season, the BBC reported.
NEWS
3 min read
NEWS
3 min read
Record-breaking May
A new May record of 35.1?C was set in May in Kew Gardens, beating the record of 32.8?C in 1944. Yellow and amber heat health alerts were also issued for the first time this year.
Caption: LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 26: Tourists pass over Westminster Bridge on May 26, 2026 in London, England. The UK has recoded the hottest May temperature on record with a blistering 34.8??C registered at Kew Gardens. Overnight temperatures also reached a record-breaking 21.3??C, marking the country's first-ever spring "tropical night." This extreme heatwave has triggered Amber Heat-Health Alerts across central and southern England. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)Photographer: Carl CourtProvider: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images Europe
Caption: BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Bournemouth Beach on May 25, 2026 in Bournemouth, England. An exceptional bank holiday heatwave is currently bringing record-breaking weather to England with temperatures forecast to climb into the low 30s by Monday.The intense high pressure has prompted the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to issue rare, amber heat alerts across multiple regions due to the health risks for vulnerable people and extreme UV levels. (Photo by Simon Ackerman/Getty Images)Photographer: Simon AckermanProvider: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images EuropeCopyright: 2026 Simon Ackerman
(Photo: Getty/Kaspi Creative Inc).
HEALTH
Why you need to do more strength training
Clare Wilson
Science Writer Forget lifting heavy - lifting for longer may be the secret to staying healthy. People should aim to clock up at least 90 minutes of strength training a week, a study has found.
How much strength training do you need?
Current UK guidelines say people should aim to do strength training at least two days a week. How long that should last is unspecified, but experts suggest some people may interpret that as about 60 minutes.
Young Asian women use dumbbells for strength training in the gym. - stock photo. (Photo: Getty)
Kettlebell strength training at cross-training gym - stock photo. (Photo: Getty)And surveys have found only a quarter of people in the UK are doing any strength training at all twice weekly.
By contrast, the advice on aerobic exercise - the kind that gets your heart racing, like running - says it should be done for at least 150 minutes a week at moderate intensity.
What are the benefits?
Dr Yiwen Zhang, an epidemiologist at Harvard University, looked at results from three large US studies that tracked the habits of nearly 150,000 people for up to 30 years, publishing the results in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. The lowest death rate was in people who did between 90 and 120 minutes of strength training per week.
Analysis
4 min read
LIFESTYLE
5 min read
WORLD
What you need to know as Ukraine hits St Petersburg oil port
Caption: A plume of black smoke is seen over the port of St.Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, after a Ukrainian drone attack. (AP Photo)Provider: AP Photo/undefinedSource: AP
Ukraine staged a large attack on a St Petersburg oil port on Wednesday, ahead of a major economic forum hosted by Vladimir Putin in the city.
What happened?
The oil terminal, on the Gulf of Finland is one of Russia's largest fuel storage and export facilities. The attack happened hours before the opening of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum - Russia's Davos - which involves high profile foreign guests from 76 countries, including the US.
Big Read
6 min read
Explained
4 min read
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Flagship forum under threat
The Ukrainian plan of long-range sanctions is being implemented exactly as it is needed to bring peace closer. Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukrainian drones had hit several locations in Russia including a nearby naval base in Kronstadt.
Caption: ST.PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JUNE 03: Black smoke rises after Ukraine reportedly launched unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks on the opening day of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, one of Russia's most prominent organizations, in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 03, 2026. (Photo by Ali Cura/Anadolu via Getty Images)Photographer: AnadoluProvider: Anadolu via Getty ImagesSource: Anadolu
Kronstadt is the main outpost of the Russian Navy's Baltic fleet with unverified videos showing drones targeting docked ships.
The latest on Russia-Ukraine war
Caption: Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)Photographer: Vyacheslav ProkofyevProvider: Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool SputniSource: Pool Sputnik KremlinCopyright: SputnikRussian losses
This comes as the UK's largest spy agency claimed almost 500,000 Russian soldiers have been killed during the conflict.
Continued attacks
Russia and Ukraine have also exchanged a series of drone and missile strikes as peace talks continue to fail.
Caption: A resident stands at a site of a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 2, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYPhotographer: StringerProvider: REUTERSSource: REUTERS
Caption: In this handout photo provided by the French Army, a French army NH90 helicopter flies over the oil tanker Tagor, which is under international sanctions and was traveling from Russia in the Atlantic Sea, Sunday, May 31, 2026. (French Army via AP)Provider: French Army via APSource: French ArmyCopyright: ?tat-major des arm?esOil tanker seized
French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed a shadow fleet tanker had been seized with UK support.
uk NEWS
Military helicopter crashes in Devon
Caption: The crash scene of the Royal Navy helicopter in Sourton Down, off the A30 near Okehampton in Devon, June 3, 2026. // A Royal Navy helicopter has crashed into a field in an "ongoing" investigation.The helicopter, which the Ministry of Defence confirmed belonged to the Royal Navy, crashed just before 4am this morning in Sourton Down, off the A30 near Okehampton in Devon. Emergency services are still at the scene - which a local reporter described as "devastating". Photos from the scene of the smash show the wreckage of the downed chopper lying in a field.
It remains unclear if anyone was injured when the navy helicopter crashed. Military helicopters often train in the area around north Dartmoor - as the area lies between the Royal Navy's air bases at Yeovilton in Somerset and Culdrose in Cornwall.Photo released 03/06/2026
Photo released 03/06/2026 Photographer: Tom Wren / SWNSProvider: Tom Wren / SWNSSource: Tom Wren / SWNS
Three people have died after a Royal Navy helicopter crashed into a field near an A-road in Devon, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed (MoD).
Investigation ongoing
The accident occured at 4am on Wednesday near Sourton Down, close to Okehampton.
- The MoD confirmed three serviceman died during the exercise.
- The A386 was closed between A30 at Sourton Down and the A3079 Fowley Cross in Okehampton.
- The cause of the crash is unknown and an investigation remains ongoing.
- The site is around 27 miles north of HMNB Devonport, in Plymouth.
- Defence Secretary John Healey said he was "devastated by the loss of three service personnel".
PM pays tribute to families after helicopter crash
My thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones of the three members of the Royal Navy who sadly lost their lives this morning."
Prime minister, sir keir starmer
Caption: Mountain Rescue team near to crash scene of the Royal Navy helicopter in Sourton Down, off the A30 near Okehampton in Devon, June 3, 2026. // A Royal Navy helicopter has crashed into a field in an "ongoing" investigation. The helicopter, which the Ministry of Defence confirmed belonged to the Royal Navy, crashed just before 4am this morning in Sourton Down, off the A30 near Okehampton in Devon. Emergency services are still at the scene - which a local reporter described as "devastating".Photos from the scene of the smash show the wreckage of the downed chopper lying in a field. It remains unclear if anyone was injured when the navy helicopter crashed. Military helicopters often train in the area around north Dartmoor - as the area lies between the Royal Navy's air bases at Yeovilton in Somerset and Culdrose in Cornwall.
Photo released 03/06/2026
Photographer: Tom Wren / SWNSProvider: Tom Wren / SWNSSource: Tom Wren / SWNS
WORLD
US launches new strikes on Iran
The US military said it launched "self-defence" strikes on Iran overnight while shooting down ballistic missiles and drones targeting ships and surrounding Gulf countries.
What happened?
The US strikes targeted Qeshm Island, in the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command (Centcom) said. Centcom said Iran fired two missiles at Kuwait and three at Bahrain, all of which broke apart or were intercepted. Iran said it had retaliated by attacking US bases and helicopters in a "regional country" using missiles and drones.
Analysis
5 min read
NEWS
5 min read
The latest on ceasefire talks
Donald Trump has suggested he will abide by a court ruling that halted his 'slush fund' (Photo: Al Drago/Getty)Ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran stalled over the weekend but Donald Trump this week told his critics to "sit back and relax". Trump has since said that Iran has agreed to not have a nuclear weapon.
WORLD
5 min read
MEDIA
Why the BBC wants TV to go online-only
Adam Sherwin
Arts and Media Correspondent The shift to online TV viewing is accelerating, with the number of UK homes without broadband predicted to fall to just 220,000 by 2034.
What the BBC wants
The BBC wants ministers to set a date to switch-off digital TV signals which are being used by fewer viewers in the streaming era (Getty)New figures reveal a faster-than-expected take-up of internet-only TV, strengthening the case for switching off Freeview broadcasts during the next decade. UK broadcasters are asking the Government to set a date to switch off Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) signals, or Freeview, by the mid-2030s.
Interview
7 min read
What the figures show
The latest figures from independent analysts, 3 Reasons, shows the number of UK homes without broadband fell by 30 per cent between 2023 and 2025, and is now 1.2 million.
- The fall in broadband-free homes outpaced the 10 per cent previously predicted for the time period.
- Such an updated forecast will be used as further evidence by the BBC and other broadcasters that switch-off is achievable within a decade.
- They would save millions of pounds in channel distribution costs by ending DTT transmissions.
- Pushing switch-off as a policy objective carries a risk after The i Paper revealed nearly 48 per cent of people would oppose paying the GBP180 licence fee if its content were online-only.
What could go wrong?
Campaigners warn a switch-off would force the elderly, disabled people and those on low incomes to take on expensive high-speed broadband contracts just to watch TV, which is currently free-to-air.
MEDIA
4 min read
Big Read
5 min read
POLICING
Violent protests erupt over Henry Nowak's death
Caption: Undated handout file photo originally issued on 07/12/25 by Hampshire Police of Henry Nowak. Sikh man Vickrum Digwa has been jailed at Southampton Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak.Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025. Issue date: Monday June 01, 2026. PA Photo.
Photo credit should read: Hampshire Police/PA Wire
NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.Photographer: Hampshire PoliceProvider: Hampshire Police/PA WireSource: pa Two people have been arrested after protesters clashed with police near the site where 18-year-old student Henry Nowak was fatally stabbed.
Why are people protesting?
The clashes with police follow scrutiny over how officers dealt with the stabbing, which included handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying last December.
Bodycam footage showed him telling police "I've been stabbed" and an officer replied "I don't think you have mate". Nowak was arrested after Vickrum Digwa falsely claimed he had racially abused him. Digwa was jailed for life.
LIVE
1 min read
NEWS
4 min read
Arrests made after protest
Police and crime minister, Sarah Jones, confirmed two people had been detained following the clashes.
Eleven officers were also injured on Tuesday night.
Caption: TOPSHOT - Protestors demonstrate with police officers near Portswood Police Station in Southampton, southern England, on June 2, 2026, during a protest held in reaction to the Police's handling of the detention of victim Henry Nowak, following the conviction of his murderer Vickrum Digwa. Body camera footage of dying student Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed by British police after being stabbed by Sikh man Vickrum Digwa, and falsely accused of racially abusing his murderer sparked outrage Tuesday. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: JUSTIN TALLISProvider: AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFPCopyright: AFP or licensors
Caption: Screen grab taken from PA Video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. Vickrum Digwa was jailed at Southampton Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak.Digwa stabbed Henry to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial knife five times in the incident in Belmont Road, Southampton, on December 3 2025. Picture date: Tuesday June 2, 2026. PA Photo.
Photo credit should read: Jamie Lashmar/PA WirePhotographer: Jamie LashmarProvider: Jamie Lashmar/PA WireSource: PA
How the far right is weaponising the protests
Police are monitoring the British far right over concerns that the protests will spark rioting. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been accused of "whipping up" anger and division after he said that the murder "must be a turning point" because "white lives matter too".Several far-right groups and figures have used the case to repeat the allegations, denied by police leaders, that "two-tier policing" discriminates in favour of ethnic minorities, and claim a "white genocide" is taking place.
Exclusive
4 min read
What Lebanon's Beaufort Castle is - and why Israel captured it
Israel announced the seizure of the medieval fortress yesterday, in the latest sign of its continued ceasefire breaches in the country.
Caption: An Israeli flag and a flag of the Golani Brigade fly on Beaufort Castle, as seen from Marjayoun, southern Lebanon, June 1, 2026. REUTERS/StringerPhotographer: StringerProvider: REUTERSSource: REUTERSDefence minister announces capture
Caption: Members of Israeli troops at the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle in Nabatieh Governorate, southern Lebanon, in this screengrab from a handout video released on May 31, 2026.Israeli troops seized the Beaufort Castle and a strategic ridge in southern Lebanon, the military said, despite a ceasefire announced more than six weeks ago. Israeli Military/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. OVERLAY FROM SOURCE.Photographer: ISRAELI MILITARYProvider: via REUTERSSource: Handout
- Israel Katz said the Israeli flag was flying over the castle yesterday.
- The fort in southern Lebanon represents a strategic gain.
- Israeli Defence Forces have carried out strikes in the surrounding area.
WORLD
4 min read
What is Beaufort Castle?
Known as Qalaat al-Shaqif in Arabic, the castle was built by French crusaders in the 12th century. It is near Nabatieh and its position is 700m (2,300ft) above sea level and affords whoever controls it a view over southern Lebanon and northern Israel.
Caption: Smoke rises following Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon as seen from a position across the border in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel on May 31, 2026. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to push deeper into Lebanon after his military took over the medieval castle of Beaufort on May 31, calling it a "dramatic shift" in the campaign against Hezbollah. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: JALAA MAREYProvider: AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFPCopyright: AFP or licensors
Caption: TOPSHOT - This picture taken from a position in the Upper Galilee region in northern Israel shows an Israeli tank taking position amid destroyed buildings in southern Lebanon on May 31, 2026.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to push deeper into Lebanon after his military took over the medieval castle of Beaufort on May 31, calling it a "dramatic shift" in the campaign against Hezbollah. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP via Getty Images)Photographer: JALAA MAREYProvider: AFP via Getty ImagesSource: AFPCopyright: AFP or licensors
It has changed hands several times over the centuries, with Palestinian fighters using it as a base before Israel captured it in 1982. Israel then occupied it until withdrawing from southern Lebanon in 2000.
What is Israel doing in Lebanon?
Despite agreeing to a ceasefire on 16 April, Israel has continued to strike Lebanon with the aim of destroying the armed group Hezbollah, which mainly operates in the south of the country. Beirut has been struck on two occasions and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered further strikes on the capital today.
Caption: FILE PHOTO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a memorial service held for Ran Gvili, an off-duty police officer who was killed fighting militants that had infiltrated Israel during the deadly October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, and the last hostage recovered from Gaza, in Meitar, Israel, January 28, 2026. REUTERS/Amir Cohen TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/File PhotoPhotographer: Amir CohenProvider: REUTERSSource: REUTERS
OPINION
4 min read
Watch more from The i Paper
@theipaperFlames engulfed a warehouse in Khan Younis after it was hit by an Israeli strike on Thursday night, as civil defence workers struggled to put out the fire. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he had directed Israel's military to take more of Gaza, initially by seizing 70% of the Palestinian territory, where the population is already penned into a tiny strip of land along the coast.
Israel effectively controls an estimated 64% of the tiny coastal Strip, bombarded to ruins by Israel's two-year military assault that followed the 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel.
? original sound - The i Paper - The i Paper[3][4]Vickrum Digwa[5], 23, was jailed on Monday for a minimum of 21 years after a jury convicted him of the murder of the teenager, who had been walking home in Southampton after an evening with members of his student football team. Knife-obsessed Digwa stabbed Henry five times using a 21cm blade he was allowed to carry as part of his Sikh faith. He then lied to officers at the scene, claiming that he had been the victim of a racist attack.
Bodycam footage shows officers handcuffing and arresting Nowak, a first-year student at Southampton University, as he repeatedly complained that he could not breathe and has been the victim of a stabbing. Nowak died at the scene.
Bodycam footage revealed that Mr Nowak repeatedly told police officers 'I can't breathe' as he lay dying in handcuffs after being stabbed (Photo: Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary/AFP)'Confusing and unclear' crime scene
Following Digwa's conviction, Robert France, deputy chief constable of Hampshire Police, emphasised that the four officers attending the scene had been confronted with a "confusing and unclear" situation following a 999 call in which the use of any weapons had been denied. He also underlined that within three minutes of their arrival, the officers had started to administer first aid, including CPR, after the seriousness of Henry's condition became clear.
One of the attending officers has since resigned, while three officers continue to serve with the Hampshire force. However, police insiders have told The i Paper that the response of the officers should have been significantly changed from the moment Mr Nowak was heard to say to them "I've been stabbed" as he lay on gravel surrounded by a group who it would later become clear included his killer. Two former Metropolitan Police officers, both with decades of experience of dealing with violent crime including shootings and stabbings, said an allegation of a knife attack at a crime scene had placed an obligation on officers to establish the accuracy of that claim by immediately conducting a thorough examination of the potential victim.
In the bodycam police footage, the officers can be seen responding to Mr Nowak's comments by placing him in handcuffs behind his back while appearing to carry out only a cursory examination of his face and midriff. In response to the student's complaint that he has been stabbed, one officer said: "I don't think you have mate." Mr Nowak was then cautioned and formally placed under arrest as he lapsed into unconsciousness. The Hampshire force referred itself the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) within 24 hours of the killing.
The watchdog's investigation is continuing.
Mr Nowak was in the first year of his studies for a finance degree at Southampton University (Photo: Hampshire Police/PA)'You can see that something isn't right'
One of the Met officers, whose 30-year career included serving as a senior instructor on how police should ensure the safety of themselves and the public, said: "The moment those officers heard the words 'I've been stabbed', that should have informed everything about their subsequent actions at the scene. "When someone at a potential crime scene says they have been stabbed, then there is a duty of care and investigation on those officers. That includes examining the person, removing their clothing, to identify whether or not they have been stabbed.
"From the bodycam footage we can see that is not done fully and instead Henry Nowak is cuffed. Knife wounds can be difficult to see - not every wound is going to bleed externally." The former officer, who also served as a Scotland Yard firearms specialist, said Mr Nowak's condition - slumped against a wall and apparently unable to move - should also have sounded alarm bells in the minds of the Hampshire team.
He said: "If you look at the way Henry Nowak is lying on the ground you can see that something isn't right about him, that he isn't in a normal state. His condition warrants further investigation. "Instead, the officers act as they do.
Why they behave as they do, whether it is inexperience or naivety for example, is something that investigators will look at."
Vickrum Digwa was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years (Photo: Hampshire Police/PA)'The officers made assumptions'
The bodycam footage also raises questions about how Digwa's claims at the scene that he had been the victim of the attack may have influenced the response of the attending police team, according to a second former Scotland Yard officer.
The officer, a former murder detective with 14 years' experience, highlighted the "ABC" policing principle taught to all UK police: "Assume nothing, believe nobody and check everything." He said: "The footage suggests that these officers made assumptions. And one of those assumptions was that when Henry Nowak said he was stabbed they did not necessarily believe him."
In a statement after Digwa's sentencing, Mr Nowak's father Mark, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, said that his son's treatment by police had been "inhumane and degrading". He pointed out that the killer had not been handcuffed at any time during his arrest, in stark contrast to the treatment of his son. France, of Hampshire police, said he was "deeply sorry" that Mr Nowak had been handcuffed and arrested in the moments before he lost consciousness.
Mark Nowak speaking outside Southampton Crown Court. He said the treatment of his son by police had been 'inhumane and degrading' but blame for the killing lay entirely with Digwa (Photo: Will Heaver/PA)The former Yard detective said that Mr Nowak's claim that he had been stabbed should have immediately escalated the nature of the incident in the minds of the officers, from relatively minor assault or disorder offences under the Public Order Act, to potentially far more serious offences such as grievous bodily harm (GBH) or attempted murder. "In those circumstances, I would expect a number of things to happen.
Firstly, there is the possibility that there is a knife on the scene, possibly concealed. For the safety of the officers and the public, that means all those involved in the incident should be considered for cuffing," said the ex-detective.
Nowak suffered unsurvivable injury
The ex-officer also questioned why Mr Nowak had been handcuffed with his hands behind his back, potentially exacerbating his condition and further impeding any effort to lift his clothing in search of wounds. He said: "By cuffing him behind his back, that expands the chest and potentially worsens a wound.
If it was necessary to cuff him, it could have been done from the front, which would have allowed a more thorough examination." During Digwa's trial at Southampton Crown Court, jurors were told Mr Nowak had in fact suffered an unsurvivable stab wound to the chest. A pathologist said there had been nothing the officers could have done to save the finance student.
Hampshire Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, emphasised that its members were entitled to due process, and condemned online calls for vigilante justice against those who had attended the crime scene. The organisation said: "The officers' actions that night are subject to rigorous independent scrutiny and we must let that process run its course."
Anti-racism guidance under review
The actions of the Hampshire officers have provoked criticism from some quarters, including from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, that the case was evidence of "two-tier" policing[6], under which white lives were being treated as less important than those of ethnic minorities, or "anti-white" bias was being shown by police. Such claims are strongly rejected by police chiefs.
However, the National Police Chiefs Council, the umbrella body for UK forces, has announced it is reviewing anti-racism guidance issued last year which suggests officers should treat ethnic minorities differently in order to achieve "equality of outcomes".
A demonstrator confronts police near Portswood Police Station in Southampton, following a protest march over the circumstances of Henry Nowak's death (Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP)One serving officer told The i Paper that policing still needs to address evidence that it is institutionally racist and people from ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to suffer from unfair treatment. "There's a strong evidence base to say that policing is still institutionally racist.
It's quite right that they try to fix that. In trying to fix it, I don't think that they have gone too far." But the former Met instructor said: "The problem is that whether we like it or not policing is under the microscope and every decision in this area is liable for exceptional scrutiny.
So when an officer hears an allegation of racism at a crime scene, it triggers a fear or apprehension of what could happen further down the line."
Hampshire Police declined to comment, saying the incident remained under investigation by the IOPC.
References
- ^ Henry Nowak (inews.co.uk)
- ^ Hampshire Police (inews.co.uk)
- ^ @theipaper (www.tiktok.com)
- ^ ? original sound - The i Paper - The i Paper (www.tiktok.com)
- ^ Vickrum Digwa (inews.co.uk)
- ^ "two-tier" policing (inews.co.uk)