UK police who arrested teenage stabbing victim as he lay dying face gross misconduct probe

UK police who arrested teenage stabbing victim as he lay dying face gross misconduct probe 1 of 4 | People protest outside the police station in Southampton, England, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, one holding a photo of December 2025 stabbing victim Henry Nowak, 18. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) 2 of 4 | People gather to protest outside Southampton-police-station" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="139688" data-entity-type="organization">Southampton police station, Southampton, England, Tuesday June 2, 2026, after the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak, a British teenager who was handcuffed despite claiming he was the crime victim. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) 3 of 4 | In this image taken from PA video, Henry Nowak’s father Mark speaks to the media outside Southampton-crown-court" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="133101" data-entity-type="organization">Southampton Crown Court, Southampton, England, Monday June 1, 2026. (Will Heaver/PA via AP) 4 of 4 | In this image taken from PA Video, police and protestors clash during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak, a 18-year-old student stabbed to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial by Vickrum Digwa, in Southampton, England, Tuesday June 2, 2026. (Jamie Lashmar/PA via AP) 1 of 4 | People protest outside the police station in Southampton, England, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, one holding a photo of December 2025 stabbing victim Henry Nowak, 18. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) 1 of 4 People protest outside the police station in Southampton, England, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, one holding a photo of December 2025 stabbing victim Henry Nowak, 18. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 4 | People gather to protest outside Southampton-police-station" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="139688" data-entity-type="organization">Southampton police station, Southampton, England, Tuesday June 2, 2026, after the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak, a British teenager who was handcuffed despite claiming he was the crime victim. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) 2 of 4 People gather to protest outside Southampton-police-station" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="139688" data-entity-type="organization">Southampton police station, Southampton, England, Tuesday June 2, 2026, after the fatal stabbing of Henry Nowak, a British teenager who was handcuffed despite claiming he was the crime victim. (Gareth Fuller/PA via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 4 | In this image taken from PA video, Henry Nowak’s father Mark speaks to the media outside Southampton-crown-court" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="133101" data-entity-type="organization">Southampton Crown Court, Southampton, England, Monday June 1, 2026. (Will Heaver/PA via AP) 3 of 4 In this image taken from PA video, Henry Nowak’s father Mark speaks to the media outside Southampton-crown-court" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="133101" data-entity-type="organization">Southampton Crown Court, Southampton, England, Monday June 1, 2026. (Will Heaver/PA via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 4 | In this image taken from PA Video, police and protestors clash during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak, a 18-year-old student stabbed to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial by Vickrum Digwa, in Southampton, England, Tuesday June 2, 2026. (Jamie Lashmar/PA via AP) 4 of 4 In this image taken from PA Video, police and protestors clash during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak, a 18-year-old student stabbed to death with a Sikh kirpan ceremonial by Vickrum Digwa, in Southampton, England, Tuesday June 2, 2026. (Jamie Lashmar/PA via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share LONDON (AP) — British police officers who handcuffed and arrested an 18-year-old stabbing victim as he lay dying are being investigated for potential gross misconduct, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said Wednesday.The two officers with the Hampshire Constabulary were the first to arrive at the scene after Henry Nowak was stabbed in December 2025 in the southern England coastal city of Southampton. His killer, Vickrum Digwa, who is Sikh, falsely claimed he was the victim of a racist assault by Nowak, who was white.Police body-worn video footage of Nowak’s final moments, which showed him being handcuffed and telling officers he had been stabbed and that he could not breathe, shocked the public.The police conduct office said the two officers “may have potentially breached the professional behavior standards of duties and responsibilities, use of force, and discreditable conduct.” Derrick Campbell, the director of engagement at the IOPC, said the investigation “does not necessarily mean that disciplinary proceedings will follow. At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings.” 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ The watchdog is also looking at whether race or religion played a part in the officers’ decision making. Nowak’s death was seized on by far-right activists and politicians, who claim that there is bias against white people in the justice system.Violence erupted in Southampton after Digwa, 23, was convicted of murder and sentenced last month to at least 21 years in prison.