Violent clashes erupted in Southampton on Tuesday evening as protesters pelted police with missiles near the site where Henry Nowak was stabbed to death. Hundreds of demonstrators had gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station earlier, where activist Tommy Robinson and actor Laurence Fox addressed the crowd. The unrest escalated when a large group marched to the Portswood area, leading to confrontations with officers.
Police under attack
A police helicopter hovered overhead as officers were targeted with stones, bricks, chairs, cans, and flares. Demonstrators chanted “Henry, Henry” while riot-gear-clad police were forced to retreat, along with three police vans, from the line they had been holding. The violence followed the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa, 23, who was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years for stabbing Mr Nowak with a ceremonial kirpan, a Sikh religious item.
Home Secretary condemns disorder
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the scenes as “completely unacceptable,” accusing demonstrators of “hijacking this tragedy to stir up violence and disorder.” She praised the police for their “great bravery and calm” and warned that those responsible would face the full force of the law. The Nowak family had earlier pleaded for their son’s death not to be used to create further division or hatred.
Mr Nowak, a finance student, was stabbed on December 3, 2025. Body-worn camera footage showed him telling officers, “I’ve been stabbed,” to which one replied, “Don’t think you have, mate.” The police response has drawn widespread criticism, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying he “felt sick” watching the footage and calling for answers on how accusations of racism influenced police decision-making.
Wider fallout
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has announced a review of its anti-racism guidance, the Race Action Plan, which some blame for the officers’ actions. NPCC chairman Gavin Stephens said legitimate concerns about wording would be addressed but stressed the plan’s intent to improve policing quality. Hampshire Police confirmed that one officer involved in the case has resigned, while three others remain on duty as witnesses.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage urged “pure cold rage” over Mr Nowak’s treatment, claiming it showed a “two-tier culture” where a racial slur accusation was taken more seriously than murder. Meanwhile, Attorney General Lord Hermer has received multiple requests to review Digwa’s sentence as potentially unduly lenient. Digwa, along with his father Moga Singh and brother Gurpreet Digwa, also faced weapons charges in court. The killer’s family issued an apology for the pain caused and for bringing the Sikh community into disrepute.
