By JAMIE BULLEN, LIVE COVERAGE EDITOR Updated: 14:36 BST, 2 June 2026
Shabana Mahmood has told MPs the family of Henry Nowak deserve answers following the release of 'disturbing' bodycam footage showing how police officers treated him as he lay dying.The Home Secretary said Henry's murder was an 'evil act' as she made a statement in the Commons.Ms Mahmood also revealed a police officer unrelated to Henry's killing has been forced into hiding after he was misidentified online.The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is planning to report on the police handling of Henry’s murder in the next three months, the Home Secretary said. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was yesterday jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for stabbing Mr Nowak, 18, six times with a religious blade he was carrying in Southampton.See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source13:30Police watchdog to report on police handling of Henry's murder within three monthsThe Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is planning to report on the police handling of Henry Nowak’s murder in the next three months, Shabana Mahmood has said.In her response to Southampton Itchen MP Darren Paffey in the House of Commons, the Home Secretary said: The IOPC will and do have the resources that they need in order to conduct their investigation and I know that they will do so with the full independence that is afforded to them in our system.I understand that they intend to report finally within the next three months, and I do believe that a meeting is now taking place with the family.13:27Mahmood clashes with Jenrick as he urges her to declare 'white lives matter' The Home Secretary has hit back at Robert Jenrick after the Reform MP called on her to say white lives matter 'just as much as anyone else' following Henry's murder.Addressing the Commons, Mr Jenrick said the police officer who handcuffed Henry should be prosecuted for what he described as a 'total dereliction of duty'.He went on to question whether police officers have been taught to elevate the perceptions of ethnic minority communities over the safety of white people. In response, Ms Mahmood said it wasn't the moment to 'pit white Britons against non-white Britons'.13:23Southampton MP - Henry's murder has 'horrified our city'The murder of Henry Nowak 'has horrified our city', a Southampton MP has said.Darren Paffey, the MP for Southampton Itchen, said: Henry was a popular and much loved student at the University of Southampton, and his murder has horrified our city.I want to commend everyone at the university for their response and support for the university community following this tragedy. I’ve watched the bodycam footage, and it is both heartbreaking and infuriating.13:17Shabana Mahmood - We cannot allow communities to turn against each otherHome Secretary Shabana Mahmood said we cannot allow the murder of Henry Nowak to 'turn communities against one another'.She told the Commons: We cannot allow this murder to turn communities against one another. We must condemn those who seek personal political profit from tragedy. Instead, we must show who we really are in this country.This was a murder, a vile and violent crime. The punishment must be reserved for those who are responsible for the act.We do not believe in collective punishment in this country, instead we stand together against an act of pure evil. We condemn those who committed this heinous crime, not all those who share their faith or their ethnicity.13:12Lib Dem MP accuses Nigel Farage of using Henry's murder to 'divide Britain'A Liberal Democrat MP has accused Nigel Farage of trying to divide Britain over Henry Nowak's murder.Max Wilkinson, the party's spokesman on home affairs, said it is 'incumbent' on politicians across the house to respect the words of Henry's father Mark Novak who said he did not want his son's murder used to create hatred.Mr Wilkinson told the Commons:Since the sentencing and the release of the harrowing video showing the sickening incident, the vast majority of politicians have responded to this matter with due sensitivity, and that reflects well on this house. It is therefore all the more disturbing that we have seen the Hon. For Clacton once again using tragedy to divide British communities. We all know why he does this. He has made a career out of this and has become rich as a result, but we are also well aware, as he is, that his actions are divisive, dangerous, and fundamentally un-British. 13:05Philp calls for police anti-racism commitment to be withdrawnMr Philp has called for a new anti-racism commitment for policing to be scrapped in the wake of Henry 's murder. The commitment, launched last year by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs' Council, sets out a plan for a police force that is 'anti-racist and trusted by Black people'.Mr Philp told the Commons that 'extreme activists' had 'hijacked' the policy.It has no place in policing, it has no place anywhere. So, does the Home Secretary agree that the so-called police anti-racism commitment must urgently be withdrawn? It is morally wrong, and it is dangerous as well. Police forces must focus on catching criminals and keeping the public safe.12:59Chris Philp - We cannot tolerate false racism allegations by criminalsShadow home secretary Chris Philp has told MPs that false allegations of criminals 'cannot be tolerated' as he responded to the Home Secretary in the Commons.Mr Philp said Henry told police he could not breathe on nine occasions and said he had been stabbed four timesCan you imagine what he must have felt as he cried out for help and was ignored as the officers who should have worked to save him, instead handcuffed him and inquired after the welfare of his killer, standing just inches away.He added:We cannot tolerate a situation where false allegations of racism by criminals are believed. We cannot allow the color of someone's skin to be a consideration in how the police or other public services treat people.12:52Home Secretary reveals misidentified police officer has been forced into hidingA police officer misidentified in the 999 call relating to Henry Nowak has been forced into hiding after he was subjected to death threats, Ms Mahmood has told the Commons.She said there had been a 'dangerous undercurrent' in the reaction to the crime and adds any threats against police officers are unacceptable.'There can be no justification for intimidation, abuse, or attempts to take the law into one's own hands,' she said.12:47Ms Mahmood has praised the Nowak family for their 'dignified' statement and added they 'deserved answers' following what she described as 'disturbing' bodycam footage.She told the Commons:I can and must pay tribute today to the dignified and powerful words of the Novak family in the statement they gave after yesterday's sentencing.They deserve answers, in particular, about what happened on that awful night and the actions of the police officers who arrived on the scene. I expect many in this house and many more across this country have now seen the police officers' body cam footage released last night. It is without question a disturbing and tragic thing to see.12:44Shabana Mahmood - 'It was an evil act' Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has described the murder of Henry Nowak as an 'evil act' as she addressed MPs.Speaking at the despatch box, Ms Mahmood said:It was an evil act. I know the thoughts of the whole house will now be with Henry's family and his friends, just as mine are. What they have been through is heartbreaking. For most of us, unimaginable.12:42Home Secretary to address Parliament over Henry Nowak murderGood afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the reaction to Henry Nowak's murder. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will shortly give a statement to the Commons following widespread outrage over the police response to the killing.Stick with us as we bring you updates.Key UpdatesMahmood clashes with Jenrick as he urges her to declare 'white lives matter' Lib Dem MP accuses Nigel Farage of using Henry's murder to 'divide Britain'Philp calls for police anti-racism commitment to be withdrawnChris Philp - We cannot tolerate false racism allegations by criminalsHome Secretary reveals misidentified police officer has been forced into hidingShabana Mahmood - Nowak family deserve answers after 'disturbing' bodycam footageShabana Mahmood - 'It was an evil act' Home Secretary to address Parliament over Henry Nowak murder
