Story perspectives

Families Outraged Over Police Failures in Death Notifications

3/26/2026

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Families Demand Accountability

The Nottingham inquiry finds families outraged by sharing of sensitive information and by police failures to inform them about their loved ones' deaths.
Ian Coates' partner, Elaine Newton, describes horror of being misinformed about his death, feeling he had been 'killed twice'.
The inquiry notes that families learned crucial information via social media rather than official channels, and that the manslaughter plea for Valdo Calocane shocked them.

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Families Seek Justice

In Nottingham, the father of Grace O’Malley-Kumar criticized the inquiry for drug-testing victims while not testing Valdo Calocane.
Sanjoy Kumar expressed disgust over lack of a hair sample from Valdo Calocane.
The inquiry showed Calocane had a history of violence and prior arrests.
The parents of Barnaby Webber condemned police actions regarding footage and messages.
Calocane is detained in a high-security hospital after pleading not guilty to murder.

History

Historical Context

The 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which resulted in 96 fatalities, prompted a critical examination of police accountability in the UK, leading to the formation of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. This legacy continues with the Nottingham inquiry, where families learned of deaths via social media, underscoring ongoing systemic failures and the urgent need for reform in police communication and public trust.

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Families Demand Accountability

The Nottingham inquiry finds families outraged by sharing of sensitive information and by police failures to inform them about their loved ones' deaths.
Ian Coates' partner, Elaine Newton, describes horror of being misinformed about his death, feeling he had been 'killed twice'.
The inquiry notes that families learned crucial information via social media rather than official channels, and that the manslaughter plea for Valdo Calocane shocked them.

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