The two police officers who handcuffed Henry Nowak as he lay dying from stab wounds have been placed under investigation for gross misconduct by the police watchdog.
The Guardian has learned the two officers have been away from work because of threats they have received, which led to fears for their safety.
The officers could face dismissal from the Hampshire force if they are found guilty.
The decision by the Independent Office for Police Conduct to change the nature of their investigation and expand it comes after two meetings with the Nowak family and their lawyer. It also follows public anger about the case after video footage showed the officers disbelieving Nowak’s pleas that he could not breathe.
The IOPC had already been investigating since Nowak’s death in Southampton in December 2025. It had previously assessed that there was no indication police may have breached discipline guidelines and treated the officers as witnesses.
Nowak, 18, died in December 2025 after being stabbed by Vickrum Digwa, who falsely told police he had been the victim of a racist attack, which led officers to handcuff Nowak and treat him as a suspect.
The investigation will also consider whether race was a factor. The case triggered claims started by the far right that Nowak’s treatment by police had stemmed from an anti-white bias.
The IOPC said it would look at “whether the race or religion of either Henry or the Digwa family impacted on the actions and decision-making of the officers, [and] whether officers’ decisions were influenced by assumptions or prejudice relating to community tensions at the time”.
Pathology evidence heard at Digwa’s murder trial said the stab wounds Nowak suffered were such that he could not have been saved.
In a statement, the IOPC said: “The evidence indicates that both officers – who were the first to arrive at the scene late in the evening of 3 December 2025 – may have potentially breached the professional behaviour standards of duties and responsibilities, use of force, and discreditable conduct.
“These relate to potential failures by the officers to recognise that Henry needed urgent medical attention, to immediately act after he said he had been stabbed and he couldn’t breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff Henry rather than provide immediate first aid.
“There’s also an indication one of the officers may have breached the standard relating to authority, respect and courtesy, for appearing to dismiss Henry saying he had been stabbed.”
Derrick Campbell of the IOPC said: “There is clear evidence that public confidence in the force may have been seriously harmed by this incident, and that is a factor we must consider when assessing the evidence.
“At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether any officers should face disciplinary proceedings.”
The IOPC will also look at issues such as why Nowak was handcuffed, while Digwa was not when he was arrested for attempted murder after police realised Nowak had been stabbed.
Campbell added: “It is also an important part of our role to identify whether any changes are needed to national or force policies or procedures, to improve police practice.”
Digwa has been convicted of Nowak’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years. Senior government law officers are appealing against the sentence on the basis it is unduly lenient.
The Hampshire force will not suspend the two officers and said: “The officers are currently away from the workplace. If they return, they will be placed on directed duties that do not involve any contact with the public.”
It declined to comment as to whether the reason the two officers were away from the workplace was because of threats.
The IOPC hopes to complete its investigation by September and is expected to interview the officers face to face.
