Summary

  1. Home secretary speaking in Commons - watch and follow livepublished at 13:42 BST 2 June
    Breaking

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood speaking in the CommonsImage source, Parliament TV

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is now making a statement in the House of Commons on the murder of Henry Nowak - watch live above.

    Stay with us for the key updates.

  2. Starmer spoke to cabinet about 'senselessness' of Nowak murderpublished at 13:34 BST 2 June

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken to his cabinet about the "harrowing nature" of Henry Nowak's death.

    A spokesman for the PM says it is clear that "the impact of Henry’s murder goes beyond his family and the local community and his friends to ripple out across the country".

    He says that Starmer addressed the "senselessness of the murder and its impact" with cabinet on Tuesday morning.

    The PM has made it very clear that he expects the inquiry to be carried out as quickly as possible and for answers to be delivered, the spokesman adds.

    He also says engagement with the Sikh community is ongoing.

  3. Police 'must treat everyone equally regardless of ethnicity' - Downing Streetpublished at 13:20 BST 2 June

    Downing Street has said the police “must treat everyone equally regardless of ethnicity”, following the case of Henry Nowak, but insists “there's no such thing as two-tier policing.”

    The prime minister’s official spokesperson said it was “absolutely right” that the IOPC investigation looks at the police response, and this “must be done as quickly as possible and make sure answers are delivered.”

    “It’s an awful, shocking and harrowing case that’s clearly affected not just the family of Henry Nowak and the community around him but the nation as well.”

    It is understood the prime minister has watched the footage several times.

    Downing Street said the government was not looking at the rules around the exception of ceremonial knives on religious grounds.

    The spokesperson said there are "longstanding legal protections in place" for Sikhs, but the laws are very clear that "any bladed item used to threaten or harm others are illegal."

  4. Home Secretary Mahmood to address Commons shortlypublished at 13:14 BST 2 June

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will shortly be addressing the Commons on the murder of Henry Nowak.

    We'll be following along and providing live updates here - you can also watch live at the top of this page.

    Shabana MahmoodImage source, Reuters
  5. Police officers called to murder scene still being treated as witnesses - watchdogpublished at 12:59 BST 2 June

    Police officers called to the scene of Henry Nowak's murder are still being treated as witnesses by the police watchdog.

    The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the actions of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary following his death.

    Its director Derrick Campbell acknowledges that the case "has raised questions about the actions of the attending officers and we are aware that a few minutes of police body-worn footage has been issued by the force following the conclusion of criminal proceedings".

    He explains that as part of its ongoing investigation the IOPC is reviewing "a large amount of police body-worn footage" and that it needs to "consider it in context with other evidence" obtained.

    This includes reviewing material presented during the murder trial, Campbell adds.

  6. Political outrage over 'awful, shocking' killing of Henry Nowakpublished at 12:51 BST 2 June

    Keir Starmer stands by the door of 10 Downing Street wearing a dark suit and a blue tieImage source, PA Media

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described Henry Nowak's murder as an "awful, shocking case".

    "Henry’s loved ones have gone through the trauma of a long trial and endured Henry's killer making up appalling claims about their son who was thoughtful, kind and deeply loved," he wrote in a post on X on Monday.

    The PM says it is right that the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the police response to the death.

    Meanwhile, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says that people should respond to Henry Nowak's death in "pure cold rage", and it is evidence of a "two-tier culture".

    Farage praises Henry's family for responding to the case in "the most extraordinarily dignified way".

    Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told ITV's Good Morning Britain that the case shows "something has gone horribly wrong with policing" and there has been an overcorrection since the murder of George Floyd in the US in 2020.

    She accused Farage of deepening divisions and says that "everyone should matter" and that "Henry Nowak matters".

    Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has also weighed in, and says it is hard to imagine the "enormous pain and grief" that Henry Nowak's family are facing.

    "This was an evil murder made so much worse by the police response," he says, backing calls for an independent investigation.

  7. Attorney general’s office considers whether jail sentence is too lenientpublished at 12:38 BST 2 June

    Attorney General Richard Hermer is considering the sentence given to Vickrum Digwa after receiving “multiple requests" to review it under the unduly lenient sentence (ULS) scheme.

    Law officers have 28 days from sentencing to "carefully consider the case and make a decision", says a spokesman for Lord Hermer's office.

    Digwa was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years for the murder of Henry Nowak.

    If the attorney general decides the sentence should be reconsidered an application for review would be made to the Court of Appeal.

    The court only accepts such reviews when it determines a sentence is outside what could reasonably be considered appropriate for the crime, and the case is considered exceptional.

    Attorney general Richard Hermer is pictured walking against a background of trees, wearing a suit and carrying a red folderImage source, PA Media
  8. Commissioner acknowledges 'serious concerns' over police judgementpublished at 12:29 BST 2 June

    The police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight says it is "devastating" that officers did not believe Henry Nowak when he said he had been stabbed and couldn't breathe.

    In a statement, Donna Jones details that "when officers realised he was gravely wounded, they uncuffed him and started CPR".

    Jones acknowledges how "the details of the police response raises serious concerns about police impartiality, fairness and judgement".

    She says she will write to the PM to request a national review of the laws "concerning the carrying of bladed articles under religious exemptions".

  9. 'Henry did not die with dignity,' his dad said outside courtpublished at 12:23 BST 2 June

    Speaking outside court after Vickrum Digwa's sentencing on Monday, the family of Henry Nowak called for a "full, fearless and transparent investigation" into his death.

    "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred, or tension," his father Mark Nowak said. "We want his story to make our streets safer for everyone".

    He paid tribute to his son as "one of the kindest, friendliest, and most inclusive people you could ever hope to meet. He was amazing in every way".

    Mark Nowak added that Henry "should not have died on the streets of Southampton in police custody".

    "Instead of being treated as a dying victim, police formally arrested Henry and read him his rights. That was the last thing he heard," he said.

    "Henry did not die with dignity, he did not die with the care he deserved."

  10. 'I can't breathe': Bodycam footage shows Nowak handcuffed while dyingpublished at 12:14 BST 2 June

    Media caption,

    Police bodycam shows officers handcuffing Henry Nowak

    Bodycam footage released by Hampshire Police shows police officers handcuffing Henry Nowak as he lay dying at the scene.

    The footage, released with the family's permission, appears to show officers speaking to Vickrum Digwa and others.

    Officers then turn to Nowak, who can be heard repeating "I've been stabbed", and grunts while he is made to sit up to be handcuffed.

    The officer can be heard asking: "You've been stabbed, whereabouts?" before adding: "Don't think you have, mate."

    He told officers "I can't breathe" nine times, his father has said.

  11. Home secretary to give statement on Nowak murderpublished at 12:02 BST 2 June

    Shabana Mahmood, carrying a red file, arrives for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street, London. Picture date: Tuesday June 2, 2026Image source, PA Media

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is due to give a statement at 13:15 on the murder of Henry Nowak.

    Footage released on Monday showed police officers putting Nowak in handcuffs as he died, despite him saying he had been stabbed and couldn't breathe.

    Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has commented in a post on X, external, saying it was an "awful, shocking case".

    "We must end the cycle of tragedy by tackling the horror of knife crime," he added.

  12. Digwa's family issue apologypublished at 11:15 BST 2 June

    Digwa's family have apologised to Nowak's family and for bringing the Sikh Community into "disrepute".

    In a statement issued through Sikh PA, a charity seeking to represent the Sikh community in the media, the unnamed family members said: "We are deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the Nowak family has had to endure.

    "We love Vickrum. We will continue to love him. That love does not stand in opposition to the sorrow we feel for the Nowak family. Both are real, and both will remain with us for the rest of our lives."

    The statement added: "We ask that this tragedy is not used by anyone to inflame division or hostility towards any community."

    Kiran Kaur, Digwa's mother, awaits sentencing for assisting an offender by taking the knife used to kill Henry Nowak back to the nearby family home.

  13. Vickrum Digwa sentenced for murder of Henry Nowakpublished at 11:05 BST 2 June

    Vickrum Digwa mugshotImage source, Hampshire police

    Vickrum Digwa was yesterday sentenced to life in prison, for a minimum of 21 years, for using a 21cm (8in) blade to stab 18-year-old Henry Nowak.

    Digwa had lied to police about being the victim of a racist attack and officers arrested and handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying on the ground after the stabbing in Southampton in December.

    The student's family have called his treatment by police "inhumane and degrading". Hampshire police has apologised.

    We are continuing to follow the reaction today.