Henry Nowak Bodycam Footage Sparks ‘Two-Tier’ Policing Fears

Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old university student, begged police for help after he was repeatedly stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, a Sikh man, in the southern English city of Southampton late last year, according to newly released bodycam footage. Rather than examine the critically wounded teen who was pleading for an ambulance, officers handcuffed him as his killer watched. 

Nowak told police he couldn’t breathe and that he had been stabbed, but the footage revealed one officer dismissed him coldly: “I don’t think you have, mate.” One of the final things Nowak heard as he lay dying was an officer reading him his rights. When police finally discovered Nowak was telling the truth, they uncuffed him and attempted to administer CPR, but it was too late.

Why did officers treat Nowak like a suspect? Well, Digwa denied stabbing the teen and allegedly claimed that Nowak had targeted him in a racist attack. That was all it took for Nowak’s dying pleas to fall on deaf ears.

Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment on Monday with a 21-year minimum, but the disturbing bodycam footage has sparked violent protests and raised an unsettling question: Is the UK living under two-tier policing?

Henry Nowak and Two-Tier Policing

Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, asserted that the United Kingdom has “two-tier policing,” triggering shouts and grumbling from his fellow politicians. “The instructions that are given to police officers from police bosses are clear and written down in ink: It says you must treat different ethnic groups in different ways,” Farage said.

According to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), a collaboration body for UK law enforcement, British police officers are committed to “racial equity,” which “does not mean treating everyone ‘the same’ or being ‘colour blind’ (racial equality).”

“Producing equality of policing outcomes for people from different ethnic groups by responding to individuals and communities according to their specific needs, circumstances and experiences, with understanding that these will be racialised and with the aim of reducing harm,” the group’s “Anti-Racism Commitment” states.

Under UK law, it is illegal to carry “most knives or any weapons in public without a ‘good reason.’” “Good reasons” include needing the knife for work or for religious reasons – and the UK government’s website specifically highlights “the kirpan,” a ceremonial dagger or miniature sword that practicing Sikhs wear. 

With policies like that, it’s hard to deny that Farage is correct about the UK’s law enforcement. “End this divisive practice of two-tier policing and make sure that all British citizens are treated the same,” Farage concluded.

Violent Protests

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Southampton police station this week to protest how officers handled Nowak’s murder. Protesters hurled chairs, rocks, garbage cans, and flares at police in riot gear, who were forced to retreat as the clash escalated.

Adding credence to Farage’s concerns, activist Tommy Robinson allegedly shouted during the demonstration, “This is about race, he was murdered because he was white.”

According to Judge William Mousley, Digwa “deliberately stabbed [Nowak] in the chest” with his dagger, before stabbing him again in the upper leg and groin. “[O]ne or more of the four stabs must have had an immediate effect as [Nowak] was never able to put up his hands to defend himself from further serious injury. He was defenceless,” Mousley explained, noting that Digwa had “little, if any, injury.”

After the attack, Digwa recorded his victim “desperately trying to get away from [him]” and “continued to make films of [Nowak] suffering, ignoring much of his desperation at having been stabbed.” In an effort to manipulate witnesses, Digwa even told Nowak that he wasn’t suffering from stab wounds, the judge said.

Digwa’s brother, Gurpreet, and mother, Kiran Kaur, arrived at the scene after the attack. Kaur hid the murder weapon and was found guilty of helping an offender, according to authorities.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Robert France apologized on behalf of the officers involved in Nowak’s tragic death, arguing they were “lied to” and “didn’t understand what had happened immediately.”

“That is an absolute tragedy and, of course, if there’s anything we can learn from it, we will,” France added. Perhaps a good place to start would be the NPCC’s “anti-racism commitment.” If the goal of the agreement was to avoid prejudiced policing, well, in the words of one of the UK’s most infamous officers: “I don’t think you have, mate.”