Nottingham Attacks Inquiry to Scrutinise Family Concerns and Systemic Failures
A major public inquiry examining the events leading up to the devastating Nottingham attacks in 2023 will thoroughly investigate the concerns of bereaved families and survivors who have endured profound personal tragedy, according to opening statements delivered on Monday. The inquiry will scrutinise multiple agencies involved with Valdo Calocane, who killed three people while suffering from paranoid schizophrenia.
Comprehensive Examination of Multiple Agencies
The two-year public inquiry, chaired by retired senior judge Deborah Taylor, is expected to hear evidence from more than one hundred witnesses as it investigates the actions of prosecutors, police forces and medical professionals. Counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC outlined numerous specific concerns that will be examined regarding Calocane's case, referred to as VC throughout the proceedings.
"Whilst we refer to the Nottingham attacks collectively, each attack was on an individual, and each attack is a personal tragedy for the victims, their families, and those close to them," Ms Langdale stated emphatically during her opening address.
Specific Areas of Investigation
The inquiry will examine multiple critical aspects of the case, including:
- The adequacy of police responses when Calocane was in custody following the attacks
- The Crown Prosecution Service's handling of the criminal case
- Procedures and decisions regarding Calocane's fitness for interview and detention
- Toxicology strategies and whether sufficient samples were collected
- Communication between police, other agencies, media, and affected families
- The impact of COVID-19 restrictions on Calocane's medical appointments
Mental Health Care Failures Under Scrutiny
Ms Langdale highlighted that "key themes" have emerged from existing investigations into Calocane's mental health care, including a Care Quality Commission report that identified significant errors by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The trust discharged Calocane to his GP in 2022 despite ongoing concerns about his condition.
The inquiry will examine why depot medication - a long-lasting injection - was never administered despite being considered for Calocane's non-compliance with treatment. "VC's antipathy towards it was given priority over its benefits in risk management," Ms Langdale noted, adding that this failure would be examined in detail.
Documented History of Mental Health Issues
According to the CQC report, Calocane's medical records clearly indicate he was "acutely unwell" throughout the two years he was under NHFT care. He experienced psychosis and paranoid delusions before being formally diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in July 2020. The regulator found that while some risks were highlighted, other assessments "minimised or omitted key details" including:
- Calocane's persistent refusal to take prescribed medication
- Ongoing symptoms of psychosis that were never adequately managed
- Violent behaviour toward others when psychosis was uncontrolled
- Escalating violent behaviour during later stages of his care
Holistic Approach to Investigation
The inquiry will adopt a comprehensive approach, examining more than sixty police statements and one hundred sixty-nine statements from the mental health trust that cared for Calocane. Chairwoman Deborah Taylor must produce a final report with recommendations by May 2027 to ensure "lessons can be learned to prevent similar attacks in the future."
Valdo Calocane was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in January 2024 after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility and attempted murder - a decision that has been widely criticised by victims' families who continue to seek answers through this thorough public inquiry process.
