Family of stabbed student Henry Nowak call for knife law changes

The family of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old university student who was fatally stabbed in Southampton, are campaigning for changes to knife laws. Their calls follow an emotional ITV Tonight documentary, Dear Henry: Our Fight For Justice, which aired on Thursday night.

Mr Nowak was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa on December 3 last year. Digwa was originally jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years. This sentence was increased to 25 years on Thursday after the Court of Appeal deemed the original term “unduly lenient”.

Calls for clearer knife legislation

Mr Nowak's father, Mark Nowak, has urged the Government to clarify the definition of a kirpan, a religious dagger that Sikhs are required to carry. He stated that while he understands the need to carry a kirpan, its size and type should be defined in law, and anything else should be made illegal. He added that legislating should not infringe on religious freedoms but that the current ambiguity is problematic for police on the streets.

In response to these concerns, the Home Office stated that discussions are continuing with Sikh stakeholders and the police regarding the law on carrying knives in public and religious defence.

Criticism of police response

The family also voiced strong criticism of the police's treatment of Henry Nowak in his final moments, suggesting that decisions may have been made to protect police reputation. Lucy Ross, Mr Nowak's mother, told ITV that her son repeatedly told police he could not breathe after being stabbed. She questioned why Henry was handcuffed while lying on the floor, but the killer was not, and expressed her inability to understand why Henry was "so dismissed and treated so badly."

Mark Nowak described the interaction between his son and officers that night as "inexcusable." His stepmother, Katie Nowak, suggested that the family was not shown video evidence of the teenager's final exchange with officers until the first day of Digwa's trial, fearing they had been "manipulated in our darkest hours" and that decisions were made to protect police reputation.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary issued a statement apologising for failing Henry Nowak in his final moments. The force acknowledged the family's serious concerns about the police response and their treatment throughout the investigation, stating they are co-operating fully with reviews and investigations.

Ongoing investigations

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating potential failures in the police response to Mr Nowak's stabbing. The investigation is expected to conclude early next year, with two officers having been under investigation for potential gross misconduct since July. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has also commissioned an independent review of the case, led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk, to examine any missed opportunities to intervene.

The Crown Prosecution Service stated that sensitive evidence could not be shared with the family until the case was trial-ready to avoid prejudicing proceedings, a point they discussed with the family.

Reacting to the increased sentence for Digwa, Mr Nowak's family stated they face a "life sentence of grief" and that their "fight for justice is far from over."