Following the conviction of a Sikh man for the murder of Henry Nowak, protesters aligned with the far right gathered from across the country, waving Union flags and violently clashing with the police. The murderer, Vickrum Digwa, had been carrying a kirpan, but had used a much larger knife to kill Nowak. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson), who was at the protest, said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race.” He added: “A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”[1] The Council of Southampton Gurdwaras and a group of Sikh MPs released these statements about the events – which your SACRE might find helpful to share with schools who may be dealing with any questions or comments raised by staff, pupils or parents.
Digwa’s actions were in direct contradiction to Sikh teachings and values that have guided Sikh communities for more than five centuries, including in Britain for over 150 years. His conduct is wholly unrepresentative of Sikhs in Southampton, the UK, or anywhere else. We condemn it unreservedly. – Council of Southampton Gurdwaras
[1] BBC News. ‘Southampton Protest: Police Appeal for Calm after Disorder’. BBC News. Updated 2 June 2026. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1m2d0ny50no