Police planned intervention during trial of Henry Nowak’s killer - report
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK politics. The justice secretary, David Lammy, is being interviewed by the BBC and this morning and will likely be asked about the future of police reform in the wake of the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
The case has come under fresh scrutiny today with reports that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary attempted to intervene during the trial of Nowak’s killer but were cautioned by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) that such action could jeopardise the case.
The police force intended to release a statement addressing what it described as online “disinformation” while court proceedings were at a critical stage against Vickrum Digwa, according to the report.
It is understood the statement included information about the court case process, reminded the public that nothing could be published that might prejudice legal proceedings, and indicated that police would respond to questions once the trial concluded.
The CPS highlighted to the police that protecting the integrity of the ongoing trial was essential, and of the risks of referring to any aspect of the evidence before it had been heard by the court and the case had been summed up by the judge to the jury.
However, it was clarified that the decision to release a statement remained a police operational matter.
Nowak, a first-year accountancy and finance student at the University of Southampton, was fatally stabbed in Southampton last December by Digwa, 23, following a night out with friends.
When police arrived at the scene, Digwa falsely claimed Nowak had racially abused him and knocked his turban off. Despite Nowak telling officers he had been stabbed and was struggling to breathe, he was handcuffed and arrested.
Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing Nowak with a ceremonial knife featuring a 21cm blade, which he carried as part of his Sikh faith.
Hampshire police have issued an apology for their conduct, which attracted worldwide attention after criticism from X owner Elon Musk and senior figures in the Trump administration.
The force has faced scrutiny following Nowak’s murder despite data disproving claims that UK police actions disproportionately disadvantage white individuals.
Lammy says he told JD Vance that Nowak case had 'nothing to do with mass migration'
On Friday evening, US vice-president JD Vance linked Henry Nowak’s murder to the “mass invasion of migrants” and stated the “only response” was “righteous anger,” prompting a rebuke from Downing Street condemning “people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division.”
The UK justice secretary and deputy prime minister, David Lammy, disclosed to ’ Trevor Phillips that he spoke with Vance yesterday following the latter’s intervention. Lammy, reportedly a close friend of the vice-president, said:
I spoke to the vice president yesterday, and I wanted to emphasise a number of things. The first is that our democratic process is working well. This young man has been convicted. There is an investigation into the police by the Independent Police (Conduct) Authority. There is an investigation into Hampshire Police by the inspectorate. The (attorney general) is looking at the sentencing in relation to this. The national police chiefs are looking at the guidance in relation to this. The second thing was I disagree with him. This has got nothing to do with mass migration. This young man was a Brit. Let’s be clear about that. And I said, ‘look, Mr vice president, you’re wrong about this’. And it’s also the case that actually murder is coming down in the United Kingdom. So we had an agreeable conversation. But we disagree.
Asked about Vance’s reaction, Lammy said the vice-president has a “longstanding concern about what he calls western values,” adding the conversation ended amicably.
I also urged him that it’s not helpful to tweet in this way, partly because of what the Nowak family have asked for, and reminded him about their desire not to make this an issue of division and hatred but to make this an issue of common sense.
