Two officers face gross misconduct investigation over Henry Nowak death

The move marks a significant escalation of the inquiry. According to the IOPC, the two officers were the first to arrive at the scene late on 3 December 2025, and the evidence gathered so far points to potential breaches of the professional standards covering duties and responsibilities, use of force, and discreditable conduct.

One officer may also have fallen short of the standard on authority, respect and courtesy, over an apparent failure to take Nowak seriously when he said he had been stabbed.

Vickrum Digwa was convicted of Nowak’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years; senior law officers are separately appealing the sentence as unduly lenient. Digwa had falsely claimed to police that he had been the victim of a racially motivated attack — an account that led the attending officers to handcuff and treat Nowak as a suspect rather than a victim.

The IOPC said the decision to widen the investigation followed further discussions with Nowak’s family, who have since lodged formal complaints against the force. Notably, the watchdog had earlier assessed that there was no indication of a disciplinary breach and had treated the officers as witnesses rather than subjects of investigation — a position it has now reversed following review of the full evidence and representations from the family.

IOPC Director of Engagement Derrick Campbell said the watchdog is required to continually reassess evidence for indications of misconduct as investigations progress, and that the two officers now face gross misconduct investigations as a result. He added that the force’s public confidence had potentially been seriously harmed by the incident, which is a factor the IOPC must weigh in its assessment.

The scope of the investigation now extends beyond the two officers’ individual conduct to cover the actions of HIOWC control room staff, including how calls relating to the incident were handled and what information was relayed to attending officers and ambulance crews.

A central strand of the widened investigation is whether race or religion influenced the officers’ decision-making — specifically, whether assumptions or prejudice relating to community tensions at the time played a role, and why Nowak was handcuffed while Digwa was not restrained when he was later arrested for attempted murder. The case had already drawn claims from far-right commentators that Nowak’s treatment reflected anti-white bias, giving the IOPC’s findings on this point particular significance for public confidence in the outcome.

The two officers have been away from the workplace, reportedly because of threats received following public disclosure of bodycam footage showing them appearing to disbelieve Nowak’s statement that he could not breathe. HIOWC said that if the officers return to work, they will be placed on directed duties involving no public contact; the force declined to confirm whether the officers’ absence was connected to the threats. Both officers could face dismissal if the misconduct allegations are ultimately upheld.

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones backed the IOPC’s decision to widen the inquiry, saying public confidence in policing depends on robust scrutiny when things go wrong, and that Nowak’s family and the public are owed answers. She said she expects HIOWC to continue cooperating fully with the investigation and to give careful consideration to any recommendations that follow.

The IOPC has indicated it expects to interview both officers face to face and hopes to conclude its investigation by September.