The murder of Henry Nowak in Southampton has ignited controversy over policing practices, with new data revealing that Hampshire police are over five times more likely to stop and search black individuals compared to white individuals. This disparity exceeds the national average for England and Wales, which stands at 3.8 times.
Details of the Incident
Henry Nowak, 18, was fatally stabbed in December by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely claimed he had been racially abused. Responding officers handcuffed and arrested Nowak, treating him as a suspect despite his pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe.
Stop and Search Statistics
In the latest available data, Hampshire police conducted 15,000 stop and searches in 2025/26, with 60% resulting in no further action. The force reported 6,000 positive outcomes but did not define the term. The racial disparity has worsened, rising from 4.1 times in 2023/24 to 4.8 times in 2024/25, and reaching 5.1 times in the most recent year. In 2021/22, black people were nearly eight times more likely to be stopped than white people.
Reactions and Context
The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, compared the police failings in the Nowak case to the 1993 Stephen Lawrence murder, citing institutional racism. However, Duwayne Brooks, the sole survivor of the Lawrence attack, attributed the mishandling to lazy policing rather than anti-white bias. Brooks stated, "We have always received lazy policing. Now it is more widespread and more people are experiencing it."
Police Force Demographics
Hampshire police are 96.4% white, compared to 90.6% of the local population. The force declined to comment on the disparity figures.
Threats Against Officers
The Hampshire Police Federation suspended its social media platforms after "serious threats" against members, including misidentified officers being forced to leave their homes. The federation condemned the threats as unacceptable.
Ongoing Investigations
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the Nowak case, treating officers as witnesses. No disciplinary or criminal offenses have been identified yet, but the inquiry is ongoing. An inquest into Nowak's death is scheduled for next year with a jury.
Additionally, the final two candidates for the role of His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary are former Hampshire chief constables Andrew Marsh and Olivia Pinkney. Pinkney would be the first woman to hold the position.
