UK Police Officers Under Investigation Over Henry Nowak Death
1st July 2026
And rightly so.
Two police officers are facing gross misconduct investigations following the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed and arrested while suffering a fatal stab wound, according to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The IOPC said evidence suggests the officers who first arrived at the scene may have failed to recognise that Nowak required urgent medical assistance. Therefore the investigation will examine the decision to arrest and handcuff him rather than provide immediate first aid, as well as the actions of control room staff handling emergency calls.
The watchdog also said one officer may have breached professional standards relating to authority, respect, and courtesy after allegedly dismissing Nowak’s claim that he had been stabbed. This is a euphemistic way of describing what happened: the officer in question when told by Nowak he had been stabbed replied “I don’t think you have, mate.”
The investigation follows formal complaints from Nowak’s family, who questioned differences between how Henry was treated by officers and how Digwa was treated after his arrest.