Investigation Ongoing After Student Dies in Police Custody Following Stabbing Incident

Eighteen-year-old Henry Nowak, a student from Southampton, was heard telling police officers "I can't breathe" while handcuffed after being stabbed. Bodycam footage shows Nowak pleading for help, stating he had been stabbed, while officers initially doubted his claims. The stabbing incident occurred in 2025, and Vickrum Digwa, 23, was later convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years. An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into the police's actions is currently ongoing. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood addressed the situation in the House of Commons, highlighting the distressing nature of the footage and the need for accountability. Nowak's family criticized the police's treatment of him, describing it as "inhumane and degrading." Demonstrations occurred outside a police station in Southampton following the incident, with various political leaders commenting on the case and calling for a review of police procedures regarding such incidents.