Summary

  • The home secretary is making a statement about the murder of Henry Nowak - watch live above

  • Shabana Mahmood says the killing of Nowak, 18, was an act of "pure evil" and his family "deserve answers"

  • Shortly before his death, Nowak was handcuffed by police and arrested while telling officers he had been stabbed and couldn't breathe, bodycam footage shows

  • In Parliament, Mahmood says the footage is a "disturbing and tragic thing to see"

  • Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed on Monday for Nowak's murder in Southampton in December

  • He lied to police at the scene, saying he had been the victim of a racist attack

  • The attorney general's office is considering whether Digwa's sentence - life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years - should be reconsidered

Media caption,
Police bodycam shows officers handcuffing Henry Nowak as he lay dying
  1. Mahmood: Every citizen should be treated equally before the lawpublished at 14:10 BST

    Mahmood mentions the case of the Southport attack and says that recommendations following the incident have been made and the government will respond fully in due course.

    She continues that the government will always ensure that police make sure every citizen is treated equally before the law.

    "I condemn every type of differential treatment. I do not stand for it," she adds, and says it is absolutely vital that message is heard loud and clear across the country.

  2. 'We cannot allow the colour of someone's skin to be a consideration' - shadow home secretarypublished at 14:05 BST

    Chris Philp speaking in the CommonsImage source, Parliament TV

    Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp says Henry Nowak's family have suffered an "unimaginable loss".

    On arriving at the scene, Philp goes on, the police "appeared more concerned with the accusation of racism" than they were in helping Henry.

    Nowak told police at the scene that he could not breathe nine times and that he had been stabbed four times, Philp reminds the House.

    "I don't think you have mate," the shadow home secretary says, quoting the officer's reply to Henry.

    Philip says the officers "who should have worked to save him instead handcuffed him and enquired about the welfare of his killer standing just inches away".

    He urges the IPOC to "urgently and transparently" report how police were "more concerned with the accusation of racism" than they were "in helping a dying man".

    Philp adds: "We cannot allow the colour of someone's skin to be a consideration in how the police or other public service treat people."

  3. Home secretary takes up challenge in memory of Henry Nowakpublished at 14:02 BST

    We cannot take away from the pain of Nowak's family, Mahmood says, and their loss will "last forever".

    The home secretary concludes her statement with the words of the Nowak family that "no other family should experience the heartbreak and horror of losing a child to knife crime".

    "Let that be a challenge to us all," she says, calling it the "very least" that can be done to honour the memory of Henry Nowak.

  4. Mahmood: This is not a case about racism, it's about murderpublished at 14:01 BST

    Mahmood says that this is not a case about Sikhism or racism, but this is a case about a murder.

    The home secretary adds that we cannot allow this case to turn communities against one another.

    "We do not believe in collective punishment in this country," she says.

  5. Mahmood pledges to tackle knife crime in the UKpublished at 13:58 BST

    Mahmood acknowledges calls from Henry Nowak's family for action to address knife crime in the UK.

    She says the government "is committed to halving knife crime in this decade", and says that since the start of this parliament knife crime has fallen by 10%, while knife homicides are down 27% - their "lowest level in a decade".

    Nowak's murder shows that "clearly we must do more", Mahmood says.

    In response to calls to tighten the right of the Sikh community to carry ceremonial knives, Mahmood adds: "Let me be clear, carrying a knife for the purpose of religious observance is one thing," but using it is "quite another".

    Home Secretary Mahmood peaking in the CommonsImage source, Parliament TV
  6. Police officer unrelated to case has been misidentified and forced to relocate - home secretarypublished at 13:57 BST

    Mahmood says she has seen a "dangerous undercurrent" in reaction to "this awful crime", referring to threats against police officers.

    She adds that a police officer unrelated to the Nowak case has been misidentified and forced to relocate in order to protect him and his family.

    "Misinformation and inflammatory commentary is making a dreadful situation even worse. We must condemn it," Mahmood says.

  7. Watchdog will be equipped to 'find the truth', says Mahmoodpublished at 13:53 BST

    The home secretary says Henry Nowak's family has called on her to ensure the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has the resources, authority and independence to carry out an investigation.

    "I confirm I will be doing so," Mahmood continues.

    The IOPC will be equipped and encouraged "to find the truth".

  8. Mahmood: Bodycam footage is disturbing and tragicpublished at 13:52 BST

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

    Henry Nowak's family deserve answers, Mahmood says.

    She says that the bodycam footage that was released yesterday - showing officers handcuffing Henry Nowak as he lay dying - is without question a "disturbing and tragic thing to see".

    She says people are rightly asking questions about how the situation was handled and shocked by Henry's words: "I can't breathe."

  9. Further charges authorised against Digwa family members - home secretarypublished at 13:49 BST

    Mahmood says that Vickrum Digwa's mother has also been convicted of assisting an offender, and is due to be sentenced on 17 July, while Crown Prosecution Services has authorised further charges against other members of the attacker's family.

    "With further sentencing and possible charges pending we must be cautious still in what we say about this case," she says.

  10. Murder of Henry Nowak a 'horrifying and evil' act, Mahmood sayspublished at 13:47 BST

    Mahmood begins by saying that Henry Nowak was a first-year student "with his life ahead of him", adding he was "kind" and "hardworking".

    She calls his murder a "horrifying" and "evil" act, and that she believes the thoughts of the whole house are with his family.

    "What they have been through is unimaginable," she says.

  11. Home secretary speaking in Commons - watch and follow livepublished at 13:42 BST
    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.

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

    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.

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

    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."

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

    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 liveat the top of this page.

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

    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.

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

    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, andsays 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.

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

    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
  18. Commissioner acknowledges 'serious concerns' over police judgementpublished at 12:29 BST

    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".

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

    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."

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

    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.