A judge-led public inquiry into the tragic Nottingham attacks will commence “within weeks,” the Prime Minister has confirmed, as the families of the victims expressed relief and hope for justice.
Barnaby Webber, 19, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, 19, and Ian Coates, 65, were brutally murdered by Valdo Calocane in June 2023. The families of the victims, who have long campaigned for a statutory inquiry, received the news at a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister assured the families that a retired judge would be appointed soon to oversee the inquiry, which will have the power to compel witnesses to testify about their actions and decisions leading up to the attack. This was a key demand from the families, who said a full investigation was necessary to hold all responsible parties accountable.
“It’s a great day, a watershed moment,” said Emma Webber, the mother of Barnaby, speaking after the meeting. “It’s the first bit of positive news we’ve had in a long time.”
The inquiry will examine a range of issues, including the handling of Calocane’s mental health care, the police investigation, and the actions of multiple agencies involved in the case. Sir Keir emphasized that the government would ensure the families’ voices remained central throughout the process.
“At least now we can begin this stage toward the justice and accountability you so desperately need,” the Prime Minister told the families during the meeting.
The inquiry announcement follows a series of reviews into various aspects of the case. In January 2024, Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, citing paranoid schizophrenia. A subsequent review into the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) found room for improvement in how the case was handled.
Meanwhile, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and an independent NHS review identified multiple failings in the mental health treatment provided to Calocane, raising questions about how the system failed to prevent the attack.
The families have expressed their frustrations with authorities’ handling of the case. Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, father of Grace, said: “Everywhere Valdo Calocane intersected with the authorities, we were let down.”
Nottinghamshire Police and Leicestershire Police are also under scrutiny, with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigating both forces’ involvement.
Danny Shaw, a home affairs expert, noted that the inquiry process will take time, estimating it could take up to two years for conclusions to be reached. However, he stressed the importance of immediate action and change, even as the investigation progresses.
“This inquiry must lead to meaningful change,” said James Coates, son of Ian Coates. “It’s about protecting the public and making sure no one else has to walk in our shoes.”
The announcement of the inquiry was met with widespread support from the families, who now look toward the future with a renewed sense of hope that their loved ones’ deaths will lead to long-awaited reforms and greater accountability.