Southampton Protests: Two Arrests After Clashes Near Henry Nowak Killer's Home

Two arrests have been made after protesters engaged in violent confrontations with police near the Southampton home of Vickrum Digwa, the man convicted of murdering 18-year-old student Henry Nowak. Policing minister Sarah Jones confirmed the arrests, with one individual detained for assaulting a police officer and another for possession of a weapon.

The disturbances on Tuesday evening saw protesters pelting officers in riot gear with missiles, including chairs, cans, and flares, forcing police to retreat. The unrest followed an earlier demonstration outside the city’s police station, where political activist Tommy Robinson addressed a crowd.

Official Condemnation

Darren Paffey, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, strongly condemned the violence, stating that “whipping up violence has no place in Southampton.” He highlighted an appeal from Nowak’s family for unity, noting that the protests represented “entirely the opposite of that.” Paffey also remarked on the presence of individuals who had travelled “four hours to come and make their voices heard,” disturbing local residents.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also criticised the “unacceptable” violence directed at officers. Minister Jones acknowledged public emotion but stressed that it should not devolve into “hatred and division” or antagonism towards the police.

Scrutiny Over Police Conduct

The clashes occur amidst intense scrutiny over the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s initial handling of Nowak’s stabbing in December 2025. Bodycam footage released this week revealed officers arresting and handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying, after Digwa falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist attack. Nowak was repeatedly heard telling officers he had been stabbed.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has stated there are “serious questions for police” regarding the footage. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the force’s response, examining extensive body-worn video and trial evidence. One officer involved in the case has resigned, while three others remain serving and are being treated as witnesses. The IOPC expects to report on the case within three months.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has also reported that an officer not connected to the case has received death threats due to online misidentification, urging the public to avoid “harmful online speculation.”

Digwa was sentenced to a minimum of 21 years in prison for stabbing Nowak. His family has issued a statement apologising “for the pain and suffering the Nowak family has had to endure” and for bringing the Sikh community into “disrepute.”