Full Breakdown
Inquiry into Nottingham Triple Killing Reveals Police Failures
2/25/2026, 2:02:55 PM
Overview of the Incident
In June 2023, Valdo Calocane, a violent schizophrenic, killed three individuals in Nottingham: University of Nottingham students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates. The inquiry into these killings has revealed significant failures by law enforcement, particularly Nottinghamshire Police, who failed to execute an arrest warrant issued for Calocane nine months prior to the attacks.
Timeline of Events
- September 2022: An arrest warrant for Valdo Calocane is issued after he fails to attend a court hearing regarding an assault on an emergency worker.
- May 2023: Calocane assaults two colleagues at a factory in Kegworth, Leicestershire, but is not arrested.
- June 13, 2023: Calocane carries out the fatal stabbings.
- January 2024: Calocane is sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder.
Police Response and Failures
The inquiry has highlighted a "serious, systemic, operational failure" by Nottinghamshire Police in managing Calocane's case. John Beggs KC, representing the police, acknowledged that the warrant should have been executed in a timely manner but was not. He stated that the police had dealt with multiple incidents involving Calocane, which were often low-level complaints of antisocial behavior. However, he emphasized that the police are not adequately trained to manage individuals with severe mental health issues, suggesting that the responsibility lies more with the NHS and mental health services.
Criticism from Victims' Families
Tim Moloney KC, representing the families of the victims, expressed outrage over the police's inaction. He stated that any claim that arresting Calocane would not have made a difference is "cowardly, highly offensive and insulting." He emphasized that the police's failure to act left Calocane free on the streets for ten months, which ultimately led to the tragic events of June 2023.
Official Statements and Apologies
Nottinghamshire Police's temporary deputy chief constable, Rob Griffin, offered an unreserved apology to the families of the deceased and survivors, recognizing the distress caused by the police's failures. Additionally, representatives from the NHS expressed their regret, with Jason Beer KC stating that the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was "profoundly sorry" for not identifying opportunities to prevent the killings.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
The inquiry has also uncovered issues with police documentation, including the loss of recordings from police calls on the day of the attacks and the deletion of body-worn camera footage from officers who interacted with Calocane prior to the stabbings. These gaps raise concerns about the thoroughness of the police response and the management of Calocane's case.
What's Next
The inquiry will continue to gather evidence until June 2024, with a report and recommendations expected to be published in 2027. The findings aim to address the failures in both police and mental health services that contributed to the tragic events in Nottingham.
