The police watchdog has reopened its investigation into previous assaults by Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) previously prepared a report which concluded that officers failed to properly investigate an assault on warehouse workers by Calocane which could have stopped his murder spree a month later.
Calocane killed Ian Coates, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber in Nottingham in the early hours of June 13, 2023.
Now, the IOPC has confirmed it will reinvestigate whether Calocane’s previous history and an outstanding arrest warrant were seen by officers before the investigation was closed down.
Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates were stabbed in the street and killed in the early hours of June 13, 2023
Composite: PA; Huntingdon Academy
IOPC Director Derrick Campbell said: “Our sympathies remain with the families of Ian, Barnaby and Grace.
“We have received a number of representations from them, and we have responded as soon as we were in a position to provide the additional details requested.
“This is consistent with our policy to share evidence with interested parties so they can effectively participate in our investigations.
“For a matter to be reopened by the IOPC it has to meet one or more criteria including significant new information coming to light that requires further investigation.
“That applies in this case and after careful consideration of this new information we are carrying out further enquiries in respect of what officers actually saw on police systems about Calocane, and in particular an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
“Those who are closely impacted by our decision, including the bereaved families and the officers involved, have been notified and we will complete this work as quickly as possible.”
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Tributes were held in Nottingham City Centre
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He continued: “Any decision on the disciplinary outcome of our investigation will only be made once the new evidence and the results of these enquiries have been analysed.
“Our Director General, Rachel Watson, has offered to meet with the families of Ian, Barnaby and Grace to discuss this development and any concerns they may have.”
Solicitor Neil Hudgell, of Hudgell Solicitors, representing the families, said: “We welcome todays’ decision from the IOPC to reopen its investigation into the missed opportunities from contact Leicestershire Police officers had with Valdo Calocane in the weeks prior to him carrying out the attacks in June 2023.
“We have repeatedly raised serious concerns over a lack of thoroughness, which in our view made this investigation insufficient and incomplete.
“Any other outcome than what has been announced today would have been perverse.”
Hudgell continued: “Sadly, it is another example of how the victims’ families and their legal team are having to fight every step of the way for what they want.
“And all they want is a complete and thorough investigation, full transparency and, ultimately, accountability.
“They, and we, will challenge every matter which falls short of achieving these key outcomes.
“We look forward to meeting the Director General of the IOPC to discuss the next steps with regards to the reopening of the investigation, which will hopefully be a chance for us to again highlight our concerns and ensure that, this time, a full and proper investigation is conducted.”
