Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced an independent review into the murder of Henry Nowak.
The 18-year-old student was fatally stabbed in Southampton in December by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed he had been racially abused and had acted in self-defence. Digwa was jailed for life on 1 June, with a minimum term of 21 years.
Following the teenager’s murder, police bodycam footage of him being handcuffed as he lay dying led to intense scrutiny of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and sparked wider debates around knife laws, race, policing and public trust.
The review, which was welcomed by Nowak’s family, will be led by former Justice Secretary Alex Chalk KC.
“We must get to truth of what happened before, during and after that awful night and we must do everything in our power to ensure that no family suffers the same fate,” Mahmood told the House of Commons on Monday.
Mahmood said the review will investigate what was known about Nowak’s killer and if there were missed opportunities to intervene as well as the treatment of his family in the justice system and whether they received enough support.
In a statement published on Monday, the Home Office said the review will be carried out in two parts.
Phase one will cover the police, health services, local authorities educational institutions and faith organisations, including if any concerns were raised relating to weapon possession and violent behavior, the statement said.
It will also look to determine if there were missed opportunities to prevent Nowak’s murder. Chalk told Radio 4’s Today programme on Tuesday that would include looking at whether any reports had been made but people or organisations had held back due to a “misplaced sense of cultural sensitivity”.
Phase two will follow after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has concluded its investigation into the actions of police officers who attended the scene.
It will consider the actions of the IOPC and “if necessary” the police, the Home Office added.
The IOPC launched its own investigation into the response on the night of Nowak’s death after bodycam footage showed the 18-year-old was handcuffed and left dying on the floor despite informing officers of his injuries.
The investigation was launched despite a sentencing judge ruling Nowak would not have survived his injuries, however quickly he received treatment.
The Nowak family described the announcement as a “significant moment in our fight for justice.”
“We hope this review, alongside the ongoing investigations and inquest, will finally uncover the full truth and deliver the accountability and meaningful change we have fought so hard for,” they added in a statement.
“Our experience of the criminal justice system has been deeply disappointing, and we are determined that no other family should have to endure what we have.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the decision to launch the review.
“There must be proper accountability for those who failed Henry and his family,” she said.
The review is due to report in five months.
