Henry Nowak…….an absolute tragedy.

Are police officers so dense that they arrest the man, on the ground who has been stabbed many times and can’t see that he’s a victim of the other person who wasn’t stabbed?
The fact that the force has apologised means they know they have made a terrible mistake.
And I am not at all surprised sadly.

Galaxy

I think people view the 'take the knee' movement in a different light now, particularly with regard to some of the concerns raised about the BLM movement. I doubt Starmer would be as foolish to react in such a way again.

The fact that he, among others were foolish enough to do it in the first place speaks volumes.

I looked round for some more detail which might help- 28/5/26 13.01 Guardian:

"After the verdict, Hampshire police apologised for handcuffing Nowak and said the watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), was investigating.
Robert France, the force’s deputy chief constable, said: “This case is an absolute tragedy. I’m sorry that Henry’s life couldn’t be saved that night, and I’m sorry that he was handcuffed and arrested. He was the victim.”

Asked whether a fear of being perceived as racist played a part in the officers’ decision to arrest Nowak, he responded: “There’s an ongoing investigation by the IOPC, which will look into all of the information available to officers, their accounts of the decisions they made and why they made those decisions.
“What I can say at the moment is that it is clear that there were lies told [by Digwa] as the incident played out. That’s made it more difficult for officers to understand what had happened.”
Responding to criticism of the police response by Elon Musk and the Reform MP Robert Jenrick, France said: “I’m a strong advocate of free speech. I think it’s important people can say what they feel they want to say. All I would ask is that people try to understand the full circumstances. It was undoubtedly complex, and it is clear that they [the officers] misunderstood what was happening.”

On whether the decisions of the officers affected Nowak’s chances of survival, France said: “The pathologist has been clear in court that Henry’s injury was deep and internal, the significant bleeding that we heard about in court was internal, and there wasn’t anything the officer [could] have done that night that would have saved Henry.”…..

In the Prosecutors closing speech he said Digwa had lied repeatedly about what had happened. “Racism was his trump card to try to make sure what he had done was lawful. We say that was a wicked lie about a dying man.

“This is not a case about Sikhism. This is not a case about racism. This is a case about murder.”

Sago

LemonJam

What should Starmer be commenting about? The IOPC investigation has not yet concluded and the murderer has been convicted.

Starmer could have offered his condolences to the family and said he would back a full investigation.

Yes Sago he could have done, but that’s Starmer for you.

MaizieD

I’m really not sure why this particular case of a random murder should be the cause of outrage? Does this by any chance have anything to do with the ethnicity of the murderer?

I think it does…at least from the view of the police who attended this incident.
They were more concerned with an accusation of racism from a Sikh than the fact that a white male student had been stabbed multiple times, was on the ground and bleeding out, dying.
This is where over zealous wokeism gets you.

Sago I do see your point, but very sadly almost every day some terrible incident takes places, injuries, fatigues, miscarriages of justice, do you expect our PM to comment publicly on them all?

Besides which, he may well have privately commented, though again I would expect comments from our govt AFTER the investigation?

surfsup

The murderer was a knife carrying thug.

Being Sikh was used as an excuse to carry an 8” knife which he used to stab this young man 5 times. He was wearing a small ceremonial dagger around his neck to satisfy his religious observance so had no right to also be carrying another dangerous weapon.

That police would handcuff a young man lying on the pavement is beyond disgraceful. He died in handcuffs and had done nothing wrong.

Yes there should, and I hope will be outrage.

RIP Henry.

I agree. It’s a terrible situation carried out by a lawless man.

LemonJam

What should Starmer be commenting about? The IOPC investigation has not yet concluded and the murderer has been convicted.

Starmer could have offered his condolences to the family and said he would back a full investigation.

The murderer was a knife carrying thug.

Being Sikh was used as an excuse to carry an 8” knife which he used to stab this young man 5 times. He was wearing a small ceremonial dagger around his neck to satisfy his religious observance so had no right to also be carrying another dangerous weapon.

That police would handcuff a young man lying on the pavement is beyond disgraceful. He died in handcuffs and had done nothing wrong.

Yes there should, and I hope will be outrage.

RIP Henry.

I think people view the 'take the knee' movement in a different light now, particularly with regard to some of the concerns raised about the BLM movement. I doubt Starmer would be as foolish to react in such a way again.

ronib

Cossy The PM via the Home Secretary needs to wake up. Of course it’s the responsibility of the government to act.
Who else is responsible when police actions are simply wrong.
And why has the murderer’s brother not been charged for his lies?

I didn’t say it wasn’t his responsibility to act, please don’t put words into my mouth. I said it’s inappropriate for him to publicly comment whilst the police investigation is being completed.

I have no idea why the brother was not prosecuted and no idea why you’re asking me that question?

I agree, anyone involved in the cover up should be prosecuted and the entire family should be investigated as apparently approx 20 other “weapons” in their home!

What should Starmer be commenting about? The IOPC investigation has not yet concluded and the murderer has been convicted.

Haven't heard a squeak from Starmer about it, predictably.

Not sure why Musk is sticking his oar in.
He presently lives in a country where there are more guns than people. And a crime rate much higher as a result.

Cossy

I agree, no dangerous offensive weapons should be carried in public EVER, by anyone, for any reason.

I agree. And I know Sikhs who definitely don’t carry this knife all the time. No religion should insist upon the carrying of dangerous weapons in everyday life.

Elon Musk has no shame.

B****y Musk. He needs to butt out ...

Jaxjacky

I agree with you Luckygirl officers making split second decisions in the dark, they got it wrong and have admitted that.
There are demonstrations outside Southampton police station let by Southampton Patriots who are permanently outside an asylum seekers hotel in the city.
Elon Musk has offered funding to bring an unlawful death lawsuit.

Absolutely Jaxjacky. How could they possibly know in the moment the murderer was the murderer as he claimed the victim was the murder? Their judgement call and decision to handcuff who they thought was the perpetrator will no doubt be covered in the investigation.

Police have public protection in mind when they arrest someone and handcuffs are a usual action to protect the public from aggressors. They wrongly believed the murderer in the first instance and have apologised for that.

Elon Musk should be ashamed of himself stirring the pot- this is not an asylum seeker issue and there is no current evidence to support an unlawful death lawsuit. There is evidence a murder took place and the murderer has already been tried in a court of law and found guilty.

ronib

Cossy The PM via the Home Secretary needs to wake up. Of course it’s the responsibility of the government to act.
Who else is responsible when police actions are simply wrong.
And why has the murderer’s brother not been charged for his lies?

Ronib- you seem to have adversely judged the police actions in the moment as "simply wrong" before the IOPC investigation has concluded.

I agree with you Luckygirl officers making split second decisions in the dark, they got it wrong and have admitted that.
There are demonstrations outside Southampton police station let by Southampton Patriots who are permanently outside an asylum seekers hotel in the city.
Elon Musk has offered funding to bring an unlawful death lawsuit.

eazybee

^The Police officers on the face of it, initiated CPR and handcuffed what they initially thought was a perpetrator^

The word order is important here. Did they administer CPR then handcuff him; if so why as they would have seen the man was injured, or did they handcuff him first then realise he was in distress?
Something deeply unpleasant about the calculation of the murderer in deliberately calling the police,not an ambulance, to lay an accusation of racial prejudice, and the gullibility of the police in failing to investigate the situation properly as a man was dying at their feet.
Why has the body-cam footage been released?

I would imagine all these concerns will be covered by the investigation. The link in OP states:

“….when police arrived, it was Henry – a University of Southampton finance student – who was handcuffed and arrested after Digwa made his bogus accusations. Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France told the BBC: "It is a tragedy that officers did not immediately understand what had happened to Henry. "I am sorry that he had been handcuffed and arrested as he lost consciousness. "I don't want to hide the facts. I want people to understand the full facts.”

France said he expected the IOPC to investigate "the whole range of what happened" and his force was committed to acting on the watchdog's findings. He added: "The officers who initially interacted with Henry are the same officers who started the CPR, who fought to save his life and I have no doubt of the extensive impact on the officers.”

The IOPC said: "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Henry Nowak's family and everyone affected by his death.
"We are independently investigating the contact Hampshire and Isle of Wight officers had with Mr Nowak prior to his death on 4 December, including the use of handcuffs by officers and the first aid provided.

Namsnanny

MaizieD

I’m really not sure why this particular case of a random murder should be the cause of outrage? Does this by any chance have anything to do with the ethnicity of the murderer?

Perhaps Sago was concerned about the 'police handling of the case'? Or the necessity to allow knives to be carried with impunity? If it is a ceremonial piece could it not be a fake knife?

It probably was / usually is (not fake but not sharp)

Perpetrator had 2 knives, one he's allowed to carry & one he was carrying illegally like so many seem to these days.

eazybee

Why has the body-cam footage NOT been released?

This will no doubt be looked at tin the investigation.

Media reports saying handcuffed then collapsed.

eazybee

Why has the body-cam footage NOT been released?

It may have been shown to the jury, but I don't expect it to be released publicly (if at all) until after the investigation.