Two people were arrested and 11 police officers, along with one police dog, were injured during violent protests in Southampton following public anger over the handling of the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.

Demonstrators initially gathered outside a police station before moving towards the home area of Vickrum Digwa, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years for fatally stabbing Nowak in December 2025.

During the unrest, protesters threw bottles, flares, chairs and other objects at police officers, causing damage to local property and forcing officers in riot gear to retreat.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary stated that further arrests are likely as investigations continue and additional police patrols have been deployed to reassure residents.Local Labour MPs Darren Paffey and Satvir Kaur condemned the disorder and urged people not to deepen community divisions.Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones also criticised the violence, arguing that it undermined calls for fairness and accountability.The protests were fuelled by widespread criticism of the police response on the night of the stabbing.Body-worn camera footage released after the trial showed Nowak repeatedly telling officers he had been stabbed while he remained handcuffed.Digwa had falsely claimed to officers that he was the victim of a racist attack, leading police to arrest the wounded Nowak instead of his attacker.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the officers' actions, while political leaders including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have said the footage raises serious questions about police conduct.Authorities have also warned against misinformation after an unrelated officer received death threats online following mistaken identification.