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Inspectors launch review of Hampshire Police following Henry Nowak murder

An independent inspection will examine Hampshire Police processes and training after officers handcuffed dying student Henry Nowak.

Updated Aug 25, 2026 · 16:22 UTC1 reports

The short version

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS) launched an independent review into Hampshire Police following the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak.
Responding officers initially arrested and handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying after attacker Vickrum Digwa falsely claimed to be the victim of a racist assault.
The review will evaluate force training, culture, call handling, and bias-free decision-making, while avoiding direct examination of individual officer conduct.
A separate investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct is specifically assessing the conduct of the responding officers.

HMICFRS launched an inspection into Hampshire Police following the stabbing murder of University of Southampton student Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa.[BBC News]
Digwa falsely claimed to police that he was the victim of a racist attack, leading officers to initially arrest and place Nowak in handcuffs while he was dying.[BBC News]
Digwa was sentenced to life in prison in June with a minimum term of 21 years after a judge rejected his self-defense claims.[BBC News]
Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones requested the inspection to evaluate the force's training, processes, culture, and handling of racially aggravated assault claims.[BBC News]
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is conducting a separate, distinct investigation into the conduct of the officers who responded to the December 3 incident.[BBC News]