UK police under fire over handcuffing of dying student

British police are under fire following the release of bodycam footage showing officers handcuffing a dying student who had been falsely accused of racial abuse. The incident, which occurred in December 2025, has led to widespread outrage and calls for accountability.

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I can’t breathe

Eighteen-year-old Henry Nowak was stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, who later lied to police, claiming Nowak had racially abused him. The footage, released on June 2, 2026, captures Nowak repeatedly gasping "I can't breathe" as officers, seemingly accepting Digwa's false accusation, handcuffed him instead of providing immediate medical aid. A judge has since sentenced Digwa to at least 21 years for the murder.

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You've been stabbed, whereabouts? Don't think you have, mate.

Nowak's father described the police treatment of his son as "shocking," "inhumane and degrading," contrasting it with the "decency" afforded to his murderer. The family has given permission for the footage to be released.

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shocking

The case has ignited a political firestorm. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it an "awful, shocking case" and affirmed the independent police watchdog's investigation into the officers' response. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged against allowing the murder to divide communities, while opposition leaders Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage called for reforms to police diversity policies, with Farage drawing parallels to the George Floyd case and advocating for an end to "anti-white prejudice."

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inhumane and degrading… His murderer, however, was afforded decency. He was believed.