Alarming data released by Hampshire police reveals that nearly six in ten individuals arrested during the Southampton protests following the sentencing of Henry Nowak's murderer had previously been reported for domestic abuse. Freedom of Information requests have uncovered that 22 out of 37 people (59%) detained after Vickrum Digwa was jailed for life had also been accused or convicted of intimate partner violence, sparking concerns about a disturbing link between public disorder and a history of domestic abuse offences.
The protests, which erupted on 2 June, were sparked by the release of police bodycam footage showing 18-year-old Henry Nowak, handcuffed and dying after being stabbed by Digwa. The footage, which drew sharp criticism for its handling of the situation, depicted Digwa falsely accusing Nowak of racism, leading officers to initially arrest Nowak rather than his attacker. Despite Nowak's repeated assertions that he had been stabbed, the initial police response seemed to overlook this crucial detail.
The release of the footage led to widespread condemnation, with figures like Nigel Farage suggesting it was evidence of "two-tier policing" and "anti-white prejudice" within police forces. Demonstrators initially gathered outside a city centre police station before attempting to march towards the murder scene and the street where Digwa's family resided. The prolonged violent disorder resulted in injuries to 12 police officers and damage to nearby properties and vehicles.
Several individuals arrested during the disturbances had documented histories of domestic abuse. For instance, Harry Varney, 34, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for his role in the disorder, despite claiming he attended to pay respects to Nowak. His previous conviction for assault by beating, which involved pinning his partner against a wall and bruising her neck in 2023, raises concerns about the connection between public disorder and private abuse.
Similarly, Dillon Crawford, 29, received a three-year sentence for throwing objects at police and has 19 prior convictions, including for domestic abuse, where he once broke a partner's front teeth. Hampshire police have confirmed that 33 people have now been charged in connection with the public disorder, and the force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating two officers involved in the incident for potential gross misconduct.
The IOPC's investigation focuses on whether there were failures to identify Nowak's urgent medical needs and the decision to arrest and handcuff him before providing first aid. This situation underscores broader concerns about the intersection of public violence and private abuse, as noted by organisations like Women's Aid, which highlights a proven correlation between public and domestic violence.