An independent review will investigate whether public authorities missed opportunities to prevent the murder of 18-year-old student Henry Nowak and if his family received adequate support from the criminal justice system.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the review on 26 October, appointing former Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk KC to lead the investigation. The first phase is expected to report by March 2027.
A University of Southampton student, Nowak, was fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in December 2025. Digwa was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.
According to the review’s terms of reference, the first phase will examine information held by public authorities and other organisations about Digwa during the five years before the murder, including concerns about weapons and threatening behaviour.
It will also investigate how Nowak’s family was treated by criminal justice agencies following his death, including the information and support they received.
The review will examine whether obligations under the victims’ code were upheld and concerns about information-sharing following the early release of Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, who was convicted of assisting an offender.
Mahmood said the case had raised ‘serious and legitimate questions’ about the actions of public authorities and if more could have been done to prevent the murder.
In a statement published by the Home Office, Nowak’s family described the announcement of the review as a ‘significant moment in our fight for justice’ and expressed hope it would ‘uncover the full truth’ and deliver ‘accountability and meaningful change.’ However, they emphasised that their experience of the criminal justice system had been ‘deeply disappointing’ and that whilst ‘this is an important step forward…there is still a long road ahead’.
The announcement follows scrutiny of the police response to Nowak’s stabbing. The Guardian’s reporting has highlighted concerns surrounding the case, including officers’ decision to handcuff him despite his statements that he had been stabbed.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the officers’ actions separately, including the first aid provided and whether racial or religious bias influenced their decisions. No findings of misconduct have been established by that investigation. A separate inspection is examining wider practices within Hampshire Police and Isle of Wight Constabulary.
The reviews second phase will begin after the IOPC investigation concludes and will examine the watchdog’s handling of the case and if necessary, those of the police.
