The chief constable of Hampshire police has issued an apology to the family of Henry Nowak, an 18-year-old student who was handcuffed and arrested while he was dying.

Chief Constable Alexis Boon expressed his distress, mirroring the public's reaction to bodycam footage that showed the teenager repeatedly stating he had been stabbed and could not breathe. The footage captured officers arresting the student after his murderer, Vickrum Digwa, falsely claimed racial abuse.

Speaking to the BBC, Boon directly addressed the Nowak family, saying, "I'm so sorry you've had to go through this." He reiterated the apology on behalf of the force for the manner in which Henry was handcuffed and arrested.

Digwa was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years for the murder, which occurred in December. However, Boon, who leads the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, stated he would not resign over the incident and would not pre-judge the outcome of an Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into the police response.

Boon confirmed that one officer featured in the bodycam video has since left the force for unrelated reasons, and three other officers are no longer assigned to front-line duties. He described the events captured on film as "a tragedy, an absolute tragedy," adding that it was "very difficult to watch" and that he "really feel[s] for the family of Henry at this time."

Following the sentencing, Mark Nowak, Henry's father, stated that the family would endure their grief daily. He found it unbearable to witness his son's treatment by the police compared to his killer, but emphasized, "We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension."

The circumstances surrounding Henry Nowak's death have drawn widespread condemnation and prompted political commentary. On Wednesday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Nigel Farage of exploiting the case for political gain, suggesting Farage's comments about "two-tier policing" and urging the public to react with "pure cold rage" were divisive.

Chief Constable Boon stated that he did not recognize the term "two-tier policing" and affirmed that he witnessed officers working diligently every day.