Police Injuries and Riot Details
Eleven officers and a police dog sustained injuries during disorder linked to protests over the murder of Henry Nowak, according to Hampshire police chief Alexis Boon. He accused those involved of being "determined to spark fear and division".
The unrest on Tuesday night left significant damage across Southampton, with smashed car windows and bricks scattered on the roads.
The evening initially began peacefully outside Southampton central police station but escalated when hundreds marched through the city to the neighbourhood where Nowak was killed and where his convicted killer, Vickrum Digwa, resided.
Protesters threw bricks, wheelie bins, bottles, and beer cans at riot police, who were equipped in riot gear to prevent them from reaching Digwa’s family home.
Police Response and Statements
On Wednesday, Chief Constable Alexis Boon stated that 11 officers and a police dog were injured while performing their duties to protect the community.
"What we, as a society, cannot accept is the violent scenes we saw in Southampton last night,"
he said. "Some clearly arrived intent on causing disorder and trouble. We saw bottles thrown, makeshift weapons used, damage caused to the homes and vehicles of innocent residents and threats and violence directed towards our officers."
Boon added that the violent actions diverted limited police resources away from those who need them most.
"While we are forced to deal with those determined to spark fear and division, our finite resources are taken away from those who need it most."
He confirmed that experienced officers would remain on the streets in the coming days to maintain safety and that two arrests had been made related to the violence. Boon also pledged to bring those responsible to justice.
Impact on Local Residents
Residents in the Portswood area expressed fear as protesters gathered near their homes on Wednesday.
Sophie Martin, a neighbour of the Digwa family, reported that both families’ cars were damaged during the unrest.
"It was absolutely terrifying. Our two young boys were asleep. It is just an absolute destruction, and I just thought, what am I going to tell the kids, they’re three and six."
"It was absolutely petrifying. I know they weren’t targeting us but my other half has decided not to go to work today.
There is glass absolutely everywhere. We are going to be massively out of pocket. Even when the rioting had stopped and we had taped up the cars we still couldn’t sleep because we were worried they would come back. A few people have said we should move out for a bit."
Protesters and Demonstrations
The far-right activist Tommy Robinson was among those who addressed crowds outside the police station during the protests.
Protesters chanted slogans such as "Racist police, off our streets" and "Shame on you." They carried union flags and homemade signs with messages including "Henry’s blood is on your hands," "Save our kids," and "Prison 4 police on scene."
Background on Henry Nowak’s Case
Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student at the University of Southampton, was fatally stabbed five times by Vickrum Digwa. Following the incident, police arrested and handcuffed Nowak after Digwa alleged that Nowak had racially abused and assaulted him.
After Digwa was sentenced to prison, Nowak’s father, Mark Nowak, condemned the "inhumane and degrading" treatment his son received from police. However, he emphasized that they do not want Henry’s death to fuel further division, hatred, or tension.
"We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone."
