The United States administration has raised concerns over the police handling of the killing of 18-year-old British student Henry Nowak, whose case has sparked political debate and an investigation by a police watchdog.
The US State Department issued a statement on June 4 expressing condolences to Nowak’s family and the people of the United Kingdom, while criticising what it described as “two-tiered policing” in the handling of the case.
The United States sends our condolences to the family of Henry Nowak and the people of the United Kingdom at this troubling time
According to reports, Nowak repeatedly told police officers that he had been stabbed and said he could not breathe. He was handcuffed while receiving assistance at the scene and later died from his injuries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the actions of the officers involved. Four officers have reportedly been removed from duty while the investigation continues.
Hampshire Police has apologised to Nowak’s family, while a coroner is examining the circumstances surrounding his death, including whether the use of handcuffs contributed to his condition.
Nowak, a first-year finance student at the University of Southampton, was attacked in the Portswood area of Southampton on December 3, 2025, while returning home after spending an evening with friends.
Twenty-three-year-old Vickrum Digwa was convicted of murdering Nowak and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years. Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, was also convicted of assisting an offender.
The court heard that Digwa claimed Nowak had racially attacked him and knocked off his turban. However, the jury rejected his self-defence claim after hearing evidence concerning the stabbing.
Prosecutors said Digwa used a 21-centimetre dagger during the attack. His mother was convicted of removing a weapon from the scene.
The release of the body-camera footage has prompted renewed criticism of the police response, with Nowak’s family describing the treatment of their son as “inhumane and degrading”.
However, the family has stressed that Digwa remains solely responsible for Nowak’s murder.The case has also triggered protests and wider debate about policing, knife crime and allegations of unequal treatment by law enforcement.
The US State Department said the United States stood with the Nowak family and urged Western countries to reject what it called “two-tier” practices.
The IOPC investigation remains ongoing, with Hampshire Police saying it is cooperating fully with the watchdog. The family has called for a detailed review of the circumstances surrounding Nowak’s death and measures to prevent similar incidents.
The investigation and coroner’s proceedings are expected to provide further information on the police response and the events leading to the student’s death.
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