Two arrests as 11 officers hurt in Nowak protests

Two people have been arrested and 11 officers and one police dog were injured after protesters clashed with police near the site of 18-year-old Henry Nowak's fatal stabbing.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined Southampton MPs in condemning the violence, while Hampshire's police and crime commissioner said Nowak's family were "disappointed" by the scenes.

Police were pelted with missiles in clashes on Tuesday evening near the home of Nowak's killer, Vickrum Digwa, in the Portswood area.

The 23-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum 21-year term on Monday, and the clashes with police came amid tensions and scrutiny over why officers arrested and handcuffed Nowak as he lay dying.

Digwa stabbed Nowak with a large blade he said he carried for religious reasons, then lied to police at the scene, falsely claiming he was the victim of a racist attack, leading officers to arrest Nowak instead of his killer.

Bodycam footage was later released showing Nowak, in handcuffs, repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has since launched an investigation into the force's response.

A crowd initially took part in a demonstration outside the city centre police station before gathering close to the Digwa family home.

Residents told the BBC they were "shocked" by the scale of the protests, and Sir Keir called the scenes "disgraceful and completely unacceptable".

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Donna Jones said Henry Nowak's family were "disappointed" to see the violent protests.

After to speaking to his family, she told the BBC: "They do not support protests, they do not support the kind of unrest that we saw on the streets.

"They've called for calm, and if you recall back to Mark Nowak's statement on the steps of the court on Monday this week, when his son's murderer was sentenced to life imprisonment, he actually said quite the opposite - he asked for calm and he asked for reflection.

"What they don't want is hate and division coming off the back of the tragedy of Henry's death."

Opening Prime Minister's Questions, Sir Keir told the Commons: "Henry Nowak's family have shown extraordinary dignity after their son's life was stolen in appalling circumstances.

"He was clearly a kind and thoughtful and much-loved young man.

"There are serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking, and we are supporting the IOPC to get to the bottom of what happened.

"But no matter the pain we feel, there is no justification for more violence and disorder."

The Prime Minister also said Nigel Farage's "appeal for rage" in response to the death of Nowak was "unforgivable" as he clashed in the Commons with the Reform UK leader.

Farage argued that the UK had "two-tier policing" and that officers were told to treat different ethnic groups differently.

Responding, Sir Keir said: "I don't believe there's two-tier policing in this country.

"I'm really shocked that he pretends to have respect for Henry's family and then acts in this way."

Chief Constable Alexis Boon told the BBC he was "sorry for handcuffing and arresting Henry" but that he did not recognise allegations of "two-tier policing".

He said: "We understand and appreciate as police officers that we are accountable for our actions.

"What we ask, however, is that those actions are judged through fair and transparent processes. In this case, that process is already under way with the IOPC conducting their independent investigation.

"What we, as a society, cannot accept is the violent scenes we saw in Southampton last night.

"Some clearly arrived intent on causing disorder and trouble. We saw bottles thrown, makeshift weapons used, damage caused to the homes and vehicles of innocent residents and threats and violence directed towards our officers."

Boon said he expected the number of arrests to rise as investigations continue and that residents would see more officers patrolling the area in the coming days, with specialist teams supporting them.

The tensions prompted Labour MP Darren Paffey, who represents Southampton Itchen, to appeal for calm, adding that "whipping up violence" had no place in the city.

Paffey also referred to the statement given by Nowak's family on the steps of Southampton Crown Court.

"Henry's dad said they don't want his death to create further division, hatred or tension... and yet what we saw last night is entirely the opposite of that," the MP said.

He added: "Hordes of people came from outside the city. There were people saying they had travelled four hours to come and make their voices heard.

"People in their homes last night would have been really disturbed to see what was going on outside them."

Satvir Kaur, the Labour MP for Southampton Test, said: "At a time when a family and community are in mourning, we should be coming together not stoking division and pitting communities against each other."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has also condemned the "unacceptable" violence against officers at the protest.

Chairs, cans and flares were thrown at officers in riot gear, forcing them to retreat.

During the initial protest at the police station, political activist Tommy Robinson spoke to the crowd.

Southampton City Council said there was "no excuse for the kind of violence and disorder we saw last night".

It said people commenting from outside the city "should take care not to use language that could inflame tensions", and that its crews were currently clearing the damage caused by the disorder.

Spencer Wragg, chair of Hampshire Police Federation, said: "This was not protest. This was violent and sustained disorder and it has no place on the streets of this country."

He added: "Mob 'justice' has no place on our streets – the rule of law and due process must be paramount.

"The perpetrators of such violence against our colleagues should and will face the full force of the law. We expect more arrests to follow.

"Officers were subjected to disgraceful violence – pelted with bottles, bricks and wheelie bins.

"We continue to support all Hampshire police officers – including our colleagues injured last night - and we wish them a speedy recovery."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said there were "serious questions for police" following the release of the police bodycam footage.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed that one of the officers involved in the case has resigned, while the other three are still serving. All of them are being treated as witnesses.

The force said the officer who resigned did so at the end of 2025 "and not as a result of this incident".

Earlier on Tuesday, the force said an officer not connected to the case had faced death threats after being misidentified in online posts.

In a post on X, the force said: "We recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night" and warned people not to indulge in "harmful online speculation".

The police watchdog is expected to report on the case within the next three months.

It said investigators are examining a large amount of body-worn video as well as material presented during Digwa's trial.

Digwa stabbed Nowak, from Chafford Hundred in Essex, as he walked back to his student accommodation in December 2025.

A statement issued by Digwa's family apologised "for the pain and suffering the Nowak family has had to endure" and for bringing the Sikh community into "disrepute".

An inquest into Nowak's death is expected to open and adjourn at Winchester Coroner's Court on Thursday, where a fixed date will be set for a full hearing.