Protests After Henry Nowak’s Murderer Sentenced Reveal High Rate of Prior Domestic-Abuse Reports

On June 2, violent demonstrations erupted in Southampton after police body-camera footage showed 18-year-old Henry Nowak handcuffed while he was dying from stab wounds inflicted by Vickrum Digwa, who had falsely claimed a racist attack. Demonstrators gathered outside the city-centre police station and attempted to march toward the murder site and the residence of Digwa’s family. The disorder left 12 police officers injured and caused damage to nearby property and vehicles. Hampshire Police later disclosed that 22 of the 37 people detained (59 %) had previously been reported to the police for intimate-partner violence.

The Guardian

The Freedom-of-Information release indicated that a majority of those arrested during the unrest had histories of domestic abuse. Specific cases cited include Harry Varney, 34, sentenced to three years after a prior conviction for assaulting his partner, and Dillon Crawford, 29, who received a three-year term and has 19 earlier convictions, many for domestic-abuse offences. In total, 33 individuals have now been charged in connection with the public disorder.

The Guardian

Hampshire Police have referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, with two attending officers under investigation for potential gross misconduct concerning the failure to provide urgent medical aid to Nowak and the decision to arrest him before first aid was rendered. The force also self-reported to the police watchdog.

The Guardian

Nigel Farage and other commentators have seized on the footage to allege “two-tier policing” and “anti-white prejudice” within law-enforcement, arguing that the handling of Nowak’s case reflects systemic bias.

The Guardian

“Over the last two years, we have seen recurrent anti-migrant protests that have erupted into violence, with many of those arrested also carrying convictions for domestic abuse or other crimes against women and girls. It is not surprising that someone who is violent in public may also be violent at home, as there is a proven correlation between the two.” — Farah Nazeer, the chief executive of Women’s Aid

The Guardian