Sir Keir Starmer told the family of Henry Nowak he was “profoundly humbled” to meet them, after the 18-year-old student was handcuffed by police as he lay dying from a stab wound. The prime minister said at Downing Street on Thursday that Nowak “deserves a legacy that goes beyond this awful tragedy” and that he was determined to “prevent other families from suffering such a devastating loss”.
Nowak was murdered by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed the attack was racist. Bodycam footage showed officers telling the dying teen “I don't think so mate” when he said he had been stabbed. Digwa, 23, was given a life sentence with a minimum of 21 years. The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating Hampshire Constabulary’s actions, and an inquest jury will examine whether any police act or omission contributed to the death. The inquest is due in September 2025, though the coroner said on Thursday the date could be brought forward.
“PM Keir Starmer meets Henry Nowak's family after boy was handcuffed while dying; also faces Epstein survivor letter and new digital child-safety measures.”
After the private meeting with Nowak’s father Mark Nowak, mother Lucy Ross and stepmother Katie Woodcock, Sir Keir said he learned of Henry's “kindness, his warmth, and his love of football” and that his bright future was “cruelly stolen from him in appalling circumstances”. The prime minister added: “We will be unflinching in taking whatever action is required to right the wrongs in this case.”
Separately, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch met the family earlier on Thursday. She said they did not want anger to “tear communities apart” and called for a review of religious practices “that permit the carrying of dangerous weapons in public”. Badenoch said trust in the police “has been broken because of what happened”.
While Sir Keir faced the Nowak family, a former victims minister delivered a letter to Number 10 demanding he meet with survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. The letter was handed in as the prime minister also announced a three-month deadline for digital platforms to block under-16s from taking or sending nude photos. The government has threatened to legislate if measures are not strengthened, and further restrictions are expected next week, including on infinite scroll and harmful websites. Conservative MP Laura Trott said the measures don’t go far enough.
The focus on child safety has drawn criticism. In an opinion piece, a writer described the proposals as “bad faith” and a “Poundland tyranny”, arguing they bypass parental authority. But Sir Keir’s meeting with the Nowak family underscored the human cost of failures in policing and public safety – a legacy he now says he is committed to building.