Heartbreaking moment nurse breaks down in tears as she rages at Henry Nowak police

A devastated nurse broke down in tears as she expressed her anger at the police following the death of Henry Nowak. Opposite a memorial to the 18-year-old near the Southampton street where he was knifed last year by Vickrum Digwa, 23, Lidia Ksiazek, 50, originally from Poland, said that officers “should have listened to him”.

“I would like them to be held accountable for what they did,” she added. “They completely dismissed what he said, and they moved him around… When I watched that footage, I was so upset. Very upset.”

Police bodycam footage showed Henry telling Hampshire Police officers who handcuffed him that he could not breathe and had been stabbed. An officer can be heard telling him: “I don’t think you have, mate.” Ms Ksiazek rejected a smile from a police officer making local inquiries as she visited the area to pay her respects. “A policewoman smiled at me, and I said to her, ‘I’m so sorry, but don't smile at me, because I'm very angry with the police at the moment. Very angry, because you didn't save him. You didn't do anything to save this lad.'”

“Maybe his life could have been saved," the NHS worker, who has been in the UK since 2005, added.

Digwa lied to the police after inflicting multiple stab wounds on Henry, including a fatal blow to Henry’s heart with a 21 cm blade, claiming that Henry had subjected him to a racist attack.

Ms Ksiazek said she was not satisfied with the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, highlighting her dismay that he wasn't fast enough to respond.

Under UK law, Sikhs can possess a kirpan, a small ceremonial sword or dagger, for religious purposes. Digwa, who was sentenced to at least 21 years for murdering Henry, was carrying a small kirpan and a larger blade in a sheath. The latter, which was used to kill Henry, is not a strict religious requirement.

Ms Ksiazek said: “I don’t want to sound racist because I’m a foreigner myself in this country, but… why are they allowed to wear knives openly in the street?”

She added that it could give people “the courage” to use a blade.

The nurse added that she avoids walking around the city whenever possible. She said: "Generally, I think the country is not safe; you need to watch your back. I don't leave the house on my own after dark.

“If I go for a walk, I walk in the daylight. But it's sad that people need to think that way.”

Ms Ksiazek avoided the protests, as she feared they could turn nasty. She added that any future protests should be peaceful.

A man living in the street where Henry was arrested recalled that he and his wife were awoken by police at 1am knocking on their door on the morning Henry died. They have since bought cameras for their home.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I completely understand the backlash; the footage is awful.”

But he called the rioting, which included people throwing rocks from his front garden, “out of line”, as he has a young child. His wife’s car was damaged, as she described the scene as "absolute chaos."

Her husband said police had “no control” yesterday and that more officers were needed. The street is usually quiet, he added, and the couple feels unsafe for the first time.

Liam Moore, 31, who is currently unemployed after most recently working as a bin man, said he was lost for words at the footage. “It's not very nice at all.”

He too is not happy with the Prime Minister. "He didn't react at first, until we'd all gone and said something about it.” He added: “Everyone’s devastated still. We want justice for Henry. Everyone’s just shocked about it. I'm still shocked."

The residents of the house where Henry was arrested by police outside were unwilling to speak to the Express.

Matt Chudley, 43, a cardiac radiographer, said: “I think it was handled horrifically. That’s what makes it all tragic. This poor young lad… the last thing he heard in his dying breaths was him being read his rights.”

Mr Chudley added: “He’s saying he’s been stabbed. It’s going to take [officers] two seconds to have a quick look down and see if he’s got a claret anywhere. It was very upsetting to read about what was said to him and how he was treated.”

He does not think there's “any deterrent” for people carrying knives.

He called the rioting on Tuesday “distasteful”. "I think it was just a load of racist lads that are out looking for any excuse for violence, really,” the medical professional said.

He also said it “does not help when politicians are weaponising this".

Sir Keir laid into Nigel Farage at Prime Minister’s questions on Wednesday, suggesting that Reform UK’s call for Brits to display “pure, cold rage” went against the wishes of Henry’s family.

Lee Fisher, 51, a member of Southampton Patriots, was outside the city’s central police station with Tommy Robinson on Wednesday. He said: “I am sorry and ashamed as a Southampton resident to Henry’s family and every victim that gets invited to our city to further their education and become adults, only to become prey to predators.

“So many are sent to our once great city only to be either indoctrinated, mugged, beat up, raped, stabbed and murdered."

He also said that the city’s council is “not fit for purpose”, adding that not enough efforts have been made to help different communities within the city integrate.

Mr Fisher claimed that violence occurred on Tuesday after the gathering was hijacked by other groups.

One of the officers featured in the bodycam footage has resigned.

Hampshire Police said on Tuesday: “We know there has been significant commentary following the sentencing of Vickrum Digwa yesterday afternoon, and we recognise the desire for answers about the police response that night.

“However, what we cannot accept is the significant spread of misinformation online by those intent of causing further fear and division by making threats to officers and sharing names that are simply not true.

“A police officer unrelated to this case has been misidentified online and subject to death threats.

“The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is continuing its independent investigation into our response on the night in question, following our self-referral the next day.

“While that progresses, we ask that people avoid harmful speculation online.”