The United Kingdom Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has announced an independent review into the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak to examine whether opportunities were missed to prevent the killing and how his family were treated afterwards.
The Home Office disclosed this in a statement published on Monday.
The review will be conducted in two phases, with the first examining what authorities knew about the perpetrator, Vickrum Digwa, in the five years before the attack.
According to the Home Office, the first phase will examine the roles of the police, health services, local authorities, educational institutions and faith organisations, including concerns relating to weapon possession and violent, threatening and erratic behaviour.
It will also consider how the Nowak family were treated by agencies across the criminal justice system following Henry’s death, including the police, Crown Prosecution Service, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and HM Prison and Probation Service.
The second phase will begin after the Independent Office for Police Conduct concludes its investigation into the actions of police officers who attended the scene. It will examine the actions of the IOPC and, if necessary, the police.
Mahmood appointed former Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC to lead the review, with the first phase expected to be reported to the Home Secretary by March 2027.
Mahmood said, “Henry was just 18 years old, with his whole life ahead of him. His murder was a horrific and senseless crime, and my thoughts remain with his family and friends, who have endured unimaginable loss and heartbreak.”
She said the family had shown courage in seeking answers and that the case had raised questions about whether more could have been done to prevent the killing and the response of public authorities afterwards.
“This review will leave no stone unturned in seeking those answers. I am grateful to Alex Chalk for agreeing to lead this important work. He brings considerable experience and expertise, and I know he will conduct the review with the rigour, independence and seriousness that Henry’s case demands,” the Home Secretary said.
Reacting to the announcement, the Nowak family said, “At last, some positive news. Today’s announcement of the Henry Nowak Independent Review is a significant moment in our fight for justice.”
The family said they had fought for answers since Henry’s murder, adding that the process had taken an emotional toll on them alongside their grief.
They said they hoped the review, alongside ongoing investigations and the inquest, would uncover the full truth and deliver accountability and meaningful change.
“Our experience of the criminal justice system has been deeply disappointing, and we are determined that no other family should have to endure what we have,” the family said.
They thanked Mahmood for listening to their concerns and Chalk for agreeing to lead the review, while stressing that they would continue seeking answers and accountability.
Chalk said, “The murder of Henry Nowak, an innocent young man, at the hands of Vickrum Digwa shocked the nation.”
He added, “Serious questions have been raised about whether agencies and organisations failed to act on complaints about Digwa’s violent and erratic behaviour. My review will follow the evidence without fear or favour.”
He said the review would also examine how public authorities treated the family following the killing.
The Home Office said the government had renewed its commitment to tackling knife crime, citing the family’s call for action to prevent similar tragedies.
It added that, through its strategy to halve knife crime, the government was working across law enforcement, education and communities to prevent violence, support young people and bring offenders to justice.
PUNCH Online reports that Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old University of Southampton student, was fatally stabbed in Southampton, England, on December 3, 2025, by Vickrum Digwa.
During the incident, police officers initially handcuffed Nowak despite his pleas that he had been stabbed and could not breathe. The police response later attracted scrutiny following the emergence of body-worn camera footage.
Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21 years, in June 2026.