A Change.org petition to charge the police officers who were involved in the circumstances surrounding university student Henry Nowak’s death surpassed 200,000 signatures.
Nowak, 18, was murdered last year by Vickrum Digwa, 23, who fatally stabbed him in the legs and heart with an 8-inch blade he claimed he carried as part of his Sikh faith. Digwa told police that he was the victim of a racist attack from Nowak, resulting in officers immediately taking the side of the murderer and rough-handling the dying Nowak, which may have contributed to his death.
The release of police body cam footage showing Nowak’s final moments has ignited a firestorm of outrage in the United Kingdom, leading to a petition that’s garnered over 210,000 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.
The petition, titled “Demand justice for Henry Nowak: charge the officers, publish the findings,” was first published last week. The text begins by recounting the damning conduct of police, such as their flippant and dismissive treatment of the dying student, all of which was captured on camera.
“The [Independent Office for Police Conduct] is investigating – but the officers are currently being treated as witnesses, not suspects,” the petition reads. “One has already resigned. The other three are still serving. That is not good enough.”
“Over 200,000 people have signed this petition because what happened to Henry cannot be allowed to quietly disappear,” it continued, calling on the Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Secretary to act on charges of manslaughter, criminal negligence, and dereliction of duty.
The petition also demands the publishing of the full, unredacted investigation upon its completion.
Hundreds of signatories posted comments on the Change.org petition page, explaining their reasons for signing or offering words of support.
“This is not an isolated case. Our police force have become arrogant bullies and the whole institute requires a complete over haul,” Tina from Weston-super-Mare wrote. “I have witnessed first hand their lies trying to cover things that they should not have done. We need to act NOW, before it escalates and the protests turn into something far worse.”
“I want to feel safe walking the streets, just as I want my children to feel safe,” Agnieszka from London wrote. “Lately, I’ve seen so many crimes involving knives, and it’s heartbreaking to hear how many young people are losing their lives. We should be able to trust the police, not be afraid of them, no matter the color of our skin.”
While most signatures were likely from the U.K., several commenters indicated they were from the United States. This reflects the international attention the murder has received, including from the Trump administration.
Petitions on Change.org are not legally binding and don’t have to be answered, but they do indicate popular support for certain measures.
The details surrounding the Dec. 3, 2025, murder of Nowak gradually trickled out into the media over the past few months, but the killing gained international attention after body cam footage confirmed the worst details. At one point, Nowak pleaded, “I’ve been stabbed,” to which the officer responded, “I don’t think you have, mate.”
He repeatedly told officers he couldn’t breathe, but the police disregarded him. Nowak was handcuffed and read his rights, at which point he lost consciousness. The footage showed his hand was deathly pale from blood loss.
Digwa was sentenced to life imprisonment, though he was given the possibility of parole after 21 years, meaning he will be eligible at age 43.
STARMER TO MEET WITH FAMILY OF HENRY NOWAK AFTER BLAMING MUSK FOR UNREST
The police have defended the officers’ conduct and indicated there was nothing they could have done to save Nowak’s life. Much of the public wasn’t convinced, as illustrated by the petition, and the scandal has triggered a national discussion about the racial sensitivity policies of British police.
The public outrage around the murder has led to protests and riots, and even earned the condemnation of Vice President JD Vance.