Full Breakdown
Inquiry into Nottingham Knife Attack Reveals Police Oversights
3/4/2026, 2:06:18 AM
Background of the Incident
On June 13, 2023, Valdo Calocane, 34, carried out a knife attack in Nottingham, resulting in the deaths of three individuals: Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65. Calocane was later sentenced to indefinite detention at a high-security hospital after pleading guilty to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. An ongoing public inquiry is examining the circumstances leading up to this tragic event, focusing on police interactions with Calocane prior to the attack.
Calocane's Attempts to Seek Help
Evidence presented during the inquiry revealed that Calocane had attempted to turn himself in to MI5 at their headquarters in London in May 2021, two years before the attack. He approached armed officers, expressing a desire to be arrested but did not disclose the reasons for his request. PC Graham Foster, who interacted with Calocane, described him as "calm, compliant and coherent." Despite this encounter, Calocane was not further assessed by the police, as he did not meet the criteria set by the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (FTAC).
Police Oversight and Failures
The inquiry has highlighted significant failures by Nottinghamshire Police in handling previous incidents involving Calocane. Officers admitted that he should have been referred to prosecutors following multiple alarming encounters in 2020, including an incident where he attempted to break into a flat, leading to a student sustaining serious injuries after jumping from a window to escape him. Inspector Sharonjit Powar acknowledged that the 16-month delay in addressing Calocane's behavior was inappropriate and that she was unaware of the severity of his actions during that period.
Criticism of Police Response
Critics have pointed out that the police's lack of thorough investigation into Calocane's history of threatening behavior contributed to the eventual tragedy. Tim Maloney, representing the families of the victims, questioned the basic steps that should have been taken to assess Calocane's risk to others. Powar conceded that a more comprehensive review of Calocane's past incidents could have influenced decision-making regarding his case.
Official Statements & Responses
Superintendent Lorraine Busby-McVey expressed regret that Nottinghamshire Police did not conduct a more thorough assessment of Calocane after receiving intelligence from MI5. She noted that improvements have since been made to the information-sharing systems between police forces to prevent similar oversights in the future.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the inquiry has revealed numerous police oversights, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the specific protocols that should have been followed in Calocane's case. Some officers indicated that they were not fully aware of all incidents involving him, raising questions about the adequacy of training and communication within the police force.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I know he is aggressive and that he could harm me again out of nowhere” — Sebastian, former flatmate of Valdo Calocane.
- “PI Powar replied: “It is a basic step, however my decision was based on that alone in the first incident.” — Inspector Sharonjit Powar, Nottinghamshire Police.
- “It is not a basic step to see who this man is before you take decisions about what to do with him?” — Tim Maloney, counsel for victims' families.
The inquiry continues as it seeks to uncover the full extent of the failures that allowed Valdo Calocane to carry out his violent attack.
