Henry Nowak deserves legacy that goes beyond tragedy, says PM

16 minutes ago

André Rhoden-Paul

Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to Henry Nowak saying the 18-year-old "deserves a legacy that goes beyond this awful tragedy".

The prime minister said he was "profoundly humbled" to meet the student's family in Downing Street on Thursday and he was determined to "prevent other families from suffering such a devastating loss".

There has been widespread outrage after bodycam footage showed police putting the Southampton University student in handcuffs as he lay dying, after his killer Vickrum Digwa falsely claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack.

Sir Keir said there were "difficult questions that need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry's murder".

Footage of the teenager's arrest showed him repeatedly tell officers he had been stabbed, with one replying: "I don't think so mate".

Digwa, 23, has been jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years for murder.

After a private meeting with Nowak's father Mark Nowak, mother Lucy Ross and stepmother Katie Woodcock, Sir Keir said he was moved to learn about Henry's "kindness, his warmth, and his love of football" and his bright future ahead which was "cruelly stolen from him in appalling circumstances".

"Henry deserves a legacy that goes beyond this awful tragedy, and I am committed to making that happen," Sir Keir said.

"I am determined that we do everything in our power to prevent other families from suffering such a devastating loss."

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is looking into Hampshire Constabulary's actions on the night of the murder.

The prime minister said: "We will be unflinching in taking whatever action is required to right the wrongs in this case.

"It is our duty now to ensure that lessons are learned, that justice is delivered and that we choose unity and progress over division and hatred. This is the only way to honour Henry's memory."

An inquest jury into the teenager's death will look at whether any "act or omission by a police officer" caused or contributed to his death. It is due to take place in September next year although the coroner said on Thursday he hoped the date could be brought forward.

Separately Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch met Nowak's family earlier on Thursday and she said that they did not want anger to "tear communities apart".

"They have asked that we work across political parties and religions to rebuild trust in the police," she said.

"That trust has been broken because of what happened, and I agree with them on that."

A Reform UK spokesman said Henry's death was "a tragedy that should never happened" and the party has been in contact with the victim's family.

The prime minister's meeting with the Nowak family came after he accused Elon Musk of trying to "whip up division" in the UK over the murder.

Billionaire X owner Musk has posted several times on his platform criticising the police response.

Sir Keir told reporters on Thursday: "When we have a terrible case like Henry's case, Henry Nowak, we react calmly, as his family have done."

On Tuesday night protests about the case in Southampton left 11 police officers injured.