Bodycam footage released following conviction of Henry Nowak's killer

The footage, released by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, captures officers arriving at the scene in Southampton city centre on a night in December 2025. It shows the immediate aftermath of the fatal stabbing, during which officers initially detained Mr Nowak on suspicion of assault while Digwa was treated as the victim.

The release comes as police and crime commissioner Donna Jones described the case as a “national tragedy” and said there were “serious concerns about police impartiality, fairness and judgement” that must be addressed.

Digwa was convicted of murdering 18-year-old Mr Nowak following a trial at Winchester Crown Court and was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years.

In a statement following the conviction, Ms Jones said: “The death of Henry Nowak is a national tragedy. My thoughts remain with Henry’s family and friends, who have endured unimaginable grief.”

She said the circumstances surrounding the police response had raised significant concerns and welcomed the ongoing investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The newly released bodycam footage provides further insight into the complex and fast-moving circumstances officers encountered on arrival. It begins with officers being led to the scene by Digwa’s brother. On arrival, they encounter Digwa, who claims to have been injured, while Mr Nowak is being held against a wall by Digwa’s father.

The footage also captures Mr Nowak telling an officer that he had been stabbed. The comment is not initially acted upon, with the officer replying: “I don’t think you have mate” before he is placed in handcuffs. Officers subsequently reassessed the situation and began providing emergency medical treatment.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has previously apologised to Mr Nowak’s family for aspects of the initial response and said lessons had been identified.

The force has stated that officers reassessed the situation within minutes and began administering emergency first aid after recognising the seriousness of Mr Nowak’s injuries.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Police Federation said: “The murder of Henry Nowak was a tragedy, our thoughts are with his family and friends. The officers’ actions that night are subject to rigorous independent scrutiny and we must let that process run its course.

“The Police Federation condemns in the strongest possible terms the calls for mob or vigilante justice against officers we have seen in recent days. That has included police officers being wrongly identified as being involved in the incident and personal details such as home address being widely published.

“We call on politicians of all parties and media commentators to be more responsible in their comments – and allow due process for the officers involved to ensue.

“As a staff association we are supporting all Hampshire Police officers and we urge all our members to take appropriate action online and offline to stay safe.”