Missiles Thrown at Police During Henry Nowak Protest in Southampton

Police officers were targeted with various projectiles, including chairs, cans, and flares, during a protest close to the Southampton residence of Vickrum Digwa, the convicted killer of Henry Nowak.

The demonstration commenced outside Southampton Central Police Station before proceeding to the St Denys area, near where Nowak was fatally stabbed in December 2025. This week saw the release of police body camera footage depicting Nowak repeatedly stating he had been stabbed while lying in handcuffs, succumbing to his injuries. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has initiated an investigation into the police force’s response to the incident.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the scenes as “completely unacceptable,” warning that those responsible for the violence would “face the full force of the law.” She reiterated the Nowak family’s plea against exploiting his death to foster “division, hatred or tension.”

During the initial protest, political activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, addressed the crowd, asserting the racial dimension of the case. Labour MP Satvir Kaur for Southampton Test expressed concern over the political exploitation of the murder, emphasising the need to address knife crime without dividing communities.