A 23rd individual has been charged in connection with the violent disorder that took place during a protest in Southampton earlier this year. Callum Cool now faces charges relating to the unrest on 2 June, which followed the murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak.
The protest was organised after police bodycam footage was released, showing officers handcuffing Nowak as he lay dying in December, having been stabbed by another individual. The footage prompted significant public concern, particularly as Nowak's killer had falsely claimed to police at the scene that he had been racially abused.
Initially, a crowd gathered for a demonstration at the city centre police station. However, the situation escalated as protesters then moved towards the family home of Nowak's killer. It was at this point that violence erupted, leading to injuries for 12 police officers and a police dog. Missiles, including wheelie bins and chairs, were reportedly thrown during the disorder.
The financial impact of the unrest was significant for local authorities. Police incurred costs of £443,000 for staffing and accommodation related to managing the protest. Southampton City Council also faced a bill of £6,700 for clean-up operations in the aftermath of the disturbances. Nowak's family has publicly condemned the violent scenes that occurred during the protest.
Henry Nowak, originally from Chafford Hundred in Essex, was a first-year accountancy and finance student at the University of Southampton at the time of his death. The ongoing legal proceedings are a continuation of efforts to address the widespread disorder that marred the demonstration.