Hampshire’s Chief Constable Olivia Hart has publicly apologised to the family of Henry Nowak, the 21-year-old University of Southampton student who died after being restrained and arrested by police inside his own flat last Tuesday. Hart described the force’s actions as ‘profoundly wrong’ and said she had written to Nowak’s parents personally to convey her regret.
Nowak was found unresponsive at 11:42 p.m. on April 23 in his Portswood flat, according to Hampshire Constabulary. Officers responding to a welfare call entered the property and, without immediate medical assessment, placed handcuffs on the dying student before attempting to detain him. Paramedics arrived at 11:58 p.m. but were unable to revive him.
Key Points
- ✅ Chief Constable Hart issued a direct apology to Nowak’s family
- ⚡ Officers restrained Nowak for 18 minutes prior to paramedics’ arrival
- 💡 The force has launched a misconduct investigation
Southampton’s community has reacted with anger. Local councillor Priya Desai called the incident ‘a systemic failure’ and demanded immediate reforms to police training. ‘This wasn’t an isolated mistake,’ Desai said. ‘It’s part of a pattern where vulnerable individuals are criminalised in their final moments.’
| Response | Hampshire Police | Independent Watchdog |
|---|---|---|
| Public stance | Apology and internal review | Call for independent inquiry |
| Focus | Officer conduct | Systemic training gaps |
| Timeline | Two-week probe | 30-day review |
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened a case and will examine whether officers complied with national guidelines on welfare interventions. A spokesperson confirmed they are assessing ‘the necessity and proportionality of using restraint on a person in medical distress.’
💡 Pro Tip
When responding to welfare calls, assess mental and physical health before any restraint—even if the person appears agitated.
Nowak’s family has retained human rights solicitor Emma Carter. Carter stated they are considering legal action and called for body-worn cameras to be mandatory during all welfare visits. ‘His last moments were treated like a crime scene,’ she said. ‘This family deserves answers, not just an apology.’
📋 By The Numbers
- 21 — Henry Nowak’s age at the time of death
- 11:42 p.m. — Time of welfare call reporting an unresponsive student
- 11:58 p.m. — Paramedics arrived; student pronounced dead
Hampshire Constabulary has suspended two officers pending the outcome of the investigation. A third officer involved remains on active duty after initial review deemed their actions ‘within operational guidelines.’ Hart has pledged full cooperation with the IOPC and announced a review of all welfare call protocols across the force. The results will be published within 60 days.
- 🔍 Officers failed to conduct a medical assessment before restraint
- 📊 Bodycam footage shows no attempt to call for medical support first
- ⚠️ Restraint was applied despite clear signs of medical distress
The incident comes amid rising scrutiny of police responses to mental health crises nationwide, with at least three similar cases under review by the IOPC this year. Hampshire’s case, however, is the first to involve a fatality during a welfare call in the past decade.
