The review will be led by former lord chancellor Alex Chalk and will look at “any missed opportunities to intervene”, Ms Mahmood told the Commons.
asserted
Mahmood → lead → Commons
The 18-year-old died after being fatally stabbed by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton on December 3 2025.
asserted
old → die → December
In police body-worn camera footage Mr Nowak can be heard repeatedly saying: “I’ve been stabbed,” to which an officer replies: “Don’t think you have, mate.”
“It will investigate what was known about the perpetrator, including any missed opportunities to intervene.
asserted
what → wear → opportunities
“It will look at the Nowak family’s experience of the criminal justice system and whether they were supported in the manner they should have been.
asserted
they → look → manner
“Once the Independent Office for Police Conduct has concluded its investigation into the police response, this review will also consider the actions of the IOPC and, if necessary, the police.
asserted
review → conclude → IOPC
“The full terms of reference have been published today, and an initial report will be submitted to me within five months.
asserted
report → publish → months
“We must get to the truth of what happened before, during, and after that awful night, and we must do everything in our power to ensure that no family suffers the same fate.
asserted
family → get → fate
“We owe that to Henry and to all who loved him.
asserted
who → owe → him
They deserve answers, and this review will provide them.”
asserted
review → deserve → them
Digwa was jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years on June 1 this year, for Mr Nowak’s murder.
asserted
Digwa → jail → murder
Kiran Kaur, Digwa’s mother, was also jailed for three years for assisting an offender after she removed the knife used by her son.
asserted
she → jail → son
The announcement was welcomed by the Nowak family.
asserted
announcement → welcome → family
In a statement, they said: “At last, some positive news.
asserted
they → say → statement
“Since Henry was murdered, we’ve fought tirelessly for answers to questions no family should ever have to ask.
asserted
family → murder → questions
The emotional toll of that fight, on top of the unimaginable grief of losing Henry, has been immense.”
asserted
toll → lose → Henry
They added: “We hope this review, alongside the ongoing investigations and inquest, will finally uncover the full truth and deliver the accountability and meaningful change we have fought so hard for.
asserted
we → add → accountability
“Our experience of the criminal justice system has been deeply disappointing, and we are determined that no other family should have to endure what we have.
asserted
we → determine → what
“We are particularly grateful to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, for listening to our concerns and taking action; and to the Rt Hon Alex Chalk KC for agreeing to lead the review.
asserted
We → listen → review
“This is an important step forward, but there is still a long road ahead.
asserted
This → be → ?
We will not stop fighting until we secure the answers, accountability and meaningful change that Henry, and every family in this country, deserves.”
asserted
Henry → stop → country
Mr Chalk said the review will “follow the evidence without fear or favour”.
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review → say → fear
He said: “The murder of Henry Nowak, an innocent young man, at the hands of Vickrum Digwa shocked the nation.
asserted
murder → say → nation
“Serious questions have been raised about whether agencies and organisations failed to act on complaints about Digwa’s violent and erratic behaviour.
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agencies → raise → behaviour
My review will follow the evidence without fear or favour.
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review → follow → fear
“It will also examine how public authorities treated the Nowak family at a time of unimaginable pain.
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authorities → examine → pain
They deserve nothing less.”
asserted
They → deserve → nothing
She continued: “Henry was just 18 when he was murdered.
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he → continue → ?
When the police arrived, he would have believed help had come.
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help → arrive → ?
The lack of common sense and compassion shown to him in his final moments was a shocking failure by the state.
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lack → show → state
His family were then failed in the months that followed.
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that → fail → months
“When a child dies, a family is changed forever.
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family → die → ?
They should not then have to spend their lives fighting to establish what went wrong and who was responsible.
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who → have → lives
That is why I called for this review.
asserted
I → call → review
There must be proper accountability for those who failed Henry and his family.
asserted
who → fail → Henry
“The Conservatives will scrutinise this review to ensure it delivers the answers Henry’s family deserve.”
asserted
family → scrutinise → answers
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