Latest news with #IanCoates
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Prosecutors, police and doctors to be scrutinised in Nottingham attacks probe
Prosecutors, police and medical professionals will be scrutinised by a two-year public inquiry into the fatal Nottingham attacks, the Government has announced. Valdo Calocane killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65, before attempting to kill three other people in the city in June 2023. The inquiry aims to report back within two years with recommendations to prevent similar incidents, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said. Witnesses from Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) could be compelled to give evidence, the Government said on Thursday. 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 was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2024 after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder – something which has been widely criticised by the victims' families. The MoJ said the management of Calocane's risk to others in the lead-up to the attacks and public servants accessing information without authorisation will form part of the inquiry. The victims' families previously said claims that healthcare staff illegally accessed medical records belonging to their loved ones were 'sickening' and 'inexcusable'. Three Nottinghamshire Police officers also faced disciplinary action for viewing material about the case without any legitimate reason, and there have been alleged data breaches by staff working for HM Prison and Probation Service and HM Courts and Tribunals Service. Emergency services staff who responded to the attacks will also be scrutinised by the inquiry as part of a 'detailed examination' of events on the day of the killings. Senior retired judge Deborah Taylor, who jailed former tennis star Boris Becker after he avoided paying his debts, will chair the inquiry. Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said: 'The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific incidents were able to happen. 'I am pleased this inquiry is now under way and I know her honour Deborah Taylor will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts to prevent tragedies like this happening again.'
BBC News
22-05-2025
- BBC News
Nottingham attacks inquiry officially starts
The terms of reference for the public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks have been published, marking its official Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and caretaker Ian Coates, 65 were stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane on 13 June inquiry will examine the management of Calocane's risk to others, the events on the day of the attacks and timeline of incidents of unauthorised accessing of information by public is being chaired by retired judge Her Honour Deborah Taylor and has been told to report back within two years.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
Nottinghamshire Police removed from enhanced monitoring by watchdog
Nottinghamshire Police has made improvements and has been removed from an enhanced level of monitoring by a watchdog after being put into special measures last year. Last March, the East Midlands force was told to 'urgently produce an improvement plan' by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) after being put into special measures. The report came after the force was criticised for the way it handled of the deaths of Grace O'Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber, and Ian Coates, who were killed by Valdo Calocane in Nottingham in 2023. While the watchdog said the decision was not linked to the force's handling of the case, the news was nevertheless welcomed by relatives of Calocane's victims as a sign that inspectors recognised how the force needed 'intervention and urgent improvement'. The report last year ranked three of the eight areas of policing 'inadequate' in the review following an inspection from the end of 2023 to January. Forces are moved into special measures – which HMICFRS calls being subjected to an 'enhanced level of monitoring' under what is known as the 'engage' process – when they are not responding to concerns raised by the watchdog or are not 'managing, mitigating or eradicating these concerns'. Nottinghamshire Police has now been removed from 'engage' as it has made improvements, HMICFRS said. All police forces are in routine monitoring under the 'scan' stage by default, the watchdog said. HMICFRS said the improvements include: its management of crime, including supervision of crime and oversight of performance; its leadership and force management, including making progress in governance and the use of data. The chief officer team was visible and accessible, and inspectors found a positive culture and active participation in change across the workforce; and the way it is preventing and deterring crime, by addressing the issue of neighbourhood officers and staff being unable to spend enough time working in their communities. HM Inspector Roy Wilsher said: 'I am pleased with the good progress that Nottinghamshire Police has made so far. While there is still work to do, I have recommended removing the service from our enhanced level of monitoring, known as engage, and return it to routine monitoring. 'We are reassured by the plans the police force has in place to continue making improvements, particularly in relation to crime investigation, leadership, force management and neighbourhood policing. 'We will continue to assess its progress to make sure the people of Nottinghamshire are getting the service they deserve.' Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order last year for stabbing to death university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, as well as school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, in the early hours of June 13 2023. Calocane admitted manslaughter by diminished responsibility and pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of three people who were hit by a van stolen from Mr Coates, after Nottingham Crown Court heard he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. During a meeting with the Prime Minister in February this year, the families of the Nottingham attack victims were told a judge-led statutory inquiry would take place and that it would scrutinise a 'number of different agencies'.
