Independent review into Henry Nowak's murder announced by UK Home Secretary
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced an independent review into the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, stabbed in Southampton in December 2025.
UK government orders inquiry into fatal stabbing of student Henry Nowak in Southampton
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced an independent review into the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak, TheJournal.ie reports. The review will be led by former Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC and will examine whether there were missed opportunities to prevent the killing.
Nowak was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton on 3 December 2025. As he lay dying, Nowak was handcuffed by officers — a decision that followed Digwa, a Sikh, falsely accusing him of racial abuse. Body-worn camera footage captured Nowak repeatedly telling officers "I've been stabbed," to which one replied: "Don't think you have, mate."
Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years on 1 June this year. His mother, Kiran Kaur, received a three-year sentence for assisting an offender after she removed the knife her son had used.
What the review will examine
Mahmood set out the scope of the inquiry during Home Office questions in the House of Commons on Monday. "It will investigate what was known about the perpetrator, including any missed opportunities to intervene," she said. The review will also assess whether the Nowak family were properly supported by the criminal justice system in the aftermath of the killing.
Once the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) completes its own investigation into the police response, Chalk's review will additionally consider the IOPC's actions and, where necessary, those of the police themselves. An initial report is due to be submitted to Mahmood within five months, with the full terms of reference published on Monday.
"We must get to the truth of what happened before, during, and after that awful night," Mahmood told MPs. "We owe that to Henry and to all who loved him. They deserve answers, and this review will provide them."
Chalk: review will 'follow the evidence without fear or favour'
Chalk said the case had raised serious questions about whether agencies had failed to act on earlier complaints about Digwa's behaviour. "My review will follow the evidence without fear or favour," he said. "It will also examine how public authorities treated the Nowak family at a time of unimaginable pain. They deserve nothing less."
Family welcomes announcement
The Nowak family welcomed the announcement in a statement. "At last, some positive news," they said. "Today's announcement of the Henry Nowak Independent Review is a significant moment in our fight for justice. Since Henry was murdered, we've fought tirelessly for answers to questions no family should ever have to ask. The emotional toll of that fight, on top of the unimaginable grief of losing Henry, has been immense."
The family expressed hope that the review, alongside the ongoing IOPC investigation and inquest, would "finally uncover the full truth and deliver the accountability and meaningful change we have fought so hard for." They added that their experience of the criminal justice system had been "deeply disappointing" and said they were determined to ensure no other family would face the same ordeal.
The family also thanked Mahmood directly: "We are particularly grateful to the Home Secretary for listening to our concerns and taking action." They cautioned, however, that the announcement was only one step: "There is still a long road ahead. We will not stop fighting until we secure the answers, accountability and meaningful change that Henry, and every family in this country, deserves."
Cross-party support
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also welcomed the review, stating that the Nowak family had "waited far too long for answers". She described the response of officers at the scene as "a shocking failure by the state" and said families should not be forced to spend years fighting to establish what went wrong.
"When a child dies, a family is changed forever," Badenoch said. "There must be proper accountability for those who failed Henry and his family. The Conservatives will scrutinise this review to ensure it delivers the answers Henry's family deserve."
Source: TheJournal.ie