The Prime Minister has said Henry Nowak's family have shown "extraordinary dignity" following the murder of the Southampton student and condemned disorder which erupted in the city last night.
Sir Keir Starmer addressed the case during Prime Minister's Questions, a day after unrest in Southampton left 11 police officers and a police dog injured.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Keir said: "Mr Speaker, Henry Nowak's family have shown extraordinary dignity after their son's life was stolen in appalling circumstances.
"He was clearly a kind, thoughtful and much-loved young man.
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"There are serious questions to answer, including how accusations of racism informed police thinking, and we are supporting the IOPC in getting to the bottom of what happened.
"But no matter the pain we feel, there is no justification for further violence and disorder. The attacks directed at police officers in Southampton last night were disgraceful and completely unacceptable.
"It is a time for serious work, not rage. Let me be clear: anyone found to be engaging in disorder will face the full force of the law, as they have before."
READ MORE: Southampton resident's horror after protest turns violent
Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch added: "I also want to share my deepest condolences to the family of Henry Nowak.
"The circumstances around his arrest and his tragic murder must be a wake-up call to the country and our institutions that all lives matter."
The comments come amid growing scrutiny of police actions following Henry's murder in Southampton on December 3, 2025.
The 18-year-old University of Southampton student was stabbed five times by Vickrum Digwa, 23, while walking home after a night out with friends.
Jurors at Southampton Crown Court heard Digwa falsely claimed he had been the victim of a racist attack and repeated that account to police officers who attended the scene.
A jury rejected his version of events and convicted him of murder. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years.
Hundreds of people initially gathered outside Southampton Central Police Station, where Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox addressed the crowd, before protesters marched towards the Portswood area.
Disorder later broke out as officers blocked access to the street where members of Digwa's family live. Police reported protesters throwing bricks, bottles, beer cans and wheelie bins, while damage was caused to nearby homes and vehicles.
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