Attacks investigation team meets with victims’ families
THE families of the Nottingham attacks victims have met with the policing watchdog to discuss concerns about the actions of police before and after the killings.
The Independent Officer for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating Nottinghamshire Police for their handling of the investigation following the stabbings by Valdo Calocane, their previous interactions with the killer and their failure to catch him during a nine-month period when he was subject to an arrest warrant.
The watchdog is also looking into Leicestershire Police’s contact with Calocane after claims the force missed an opportunity to apprehend him just weeks before the attacks. Students Grace O’malleykumar and Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates were killed in a series of attacks in June 13. Their families met with the IOPC’S investigation team on Tuesday.
“It was important for us to hear directly and in detail their concerns about Nottinghamshire Police’s handling of the murder investigation, and other matters involving or linked to Valdo Calocane, before we finalise the terms of reference for our investigation,” said a spokesperson. “We are keen to ensure that our investigation is as fully reflective of those concerns as possible.”
The families have been heavily critical of Nottinghamshire Police’s failure to catch Calocane in the months before and its conduct after the attacks.
In a statement read out outside
Nottingham Crown Court after Calocane was given a hospital order, after his pleas of guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility were accepted, they accused assistant chief constable Rob Griffin of having “blood on your hands”.
The IOPC said since announcing the investigations it has gathered material such as incident logs, crime reports, policy documents, and intelligence records from both police forces.
“We will release further information once the terms of reference for the investigation have been agreed,” said a spokesperson. The families have been assured that regular updates will be provided to them as our investigation progresses.”
It comes after His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Inspectorate (HMCPSI) asked the Government to consider making significant changes to how homicide is dealt with by the legal system as part of its review into the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) handling of the Nottingham attacks on June 13, 2023, one of several reviews launched in the wake of the attacks.
It was also found that the CPS made the correct decision to accept Calocane’s pleas of guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and attempted murder for the three surviving victims.