IOPC to investigate Nottinghamshire Police contact with Valdo Calocane before three people killed
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has started an investigation into complaints about Nottinghamshire Police’s previous contact with Valdo Calocane and its handling of the murder investigation following the deaths of three people in Nottingham in June last year.
Calocane was found guilty in January of the manslaughter of students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar and school caretaker Ian Coates. Three people were also injured on the same morning after being struck by a car he was driving.
The investigation follows a voluntary referral by the force of complaints it had received from the victims’ families.
The complaints allege there were flaws in the handling of the murder investigation and missed opportunities by police to prevent the deaths.
Allegations have also been made in respect of the non-execution of an outstanding warrant for Calocane’s arrest prior to the killings, and concerns raised about Nottinghamshire Police’s communication with the families.
IOPC Director of Operations, Steve Noonan, said: “Our sympathies are with the families of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, and everyone else affected by the tragic events which took place on June 13 last year.
“We have now decided to investigate complaints made about Nottinghamshire Police’s involvement with Valdo Calocane.
“Along with this we are investigating the actions and decisions of Leicestershire Police, which we announced last week.”
This followed a referral from Leicestershire Police about its investigation into assaults Valdo Calocane was alleged to have committed on May 5, 2023.
The IOPC said its investigation will consider the actions and decisions of Leicestershire Police, focusing on its response to the alleged assaults.
It will also examine whether any person serving with the force may have behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings.