The family of a man killed in the 2023 Nottingham attacks has criticised Nottinghamshire Police for what they describe as a "betrayal of trust" after learning that a special constable viewed multiple body-worn camera recordings showing their son during his final moments.
What happened
According to information disclosed to the families, Special Constable Ilsadin Skenderaj accessed 12 separate body-worn video recordings that have been described as having no policing purpose for him to view. Some of the footage reportedly showed medics providing treatment to the two 19-year-olds, identified as Barnaby and Grace O’Malley Kumar, and later images of both being placed into body bags.
The viewing took place while Skenderaj was off duty and not allocated to the case. The family's complaint centres on how the force handled the officer’s conduct and how the facts were communicated to bereaved relatives.
Family reaction and accountability concerns
Barnaby’s mother, Emma Webber, said the force had failed the family and accused senior leaders of allowing the officer to leave quietly rather than face full disciplinary consequences.
“Nottinghamshire Police failed us completely over Special Constable Ilsadin Skenderaj. He watched in detail 12 body-worn videos of my son and his friend being treated – the most private, harrowing moments of their final minutes... It is utterly heartbreaking that such a profound betrayal of trust has been allowed to pass with zero real accountability.”
Force leaders, including the then-Chief Constable, had told families Mr Skenderaj had been dismissed after a misconduct hearing. The family now says he was not sacked but instead voluntarily stepped down in September 2023, before any hearing took place that December.
Context: the 2023 Nottingham attacks
The killings took place in June 2023 when Valdo Calocane attacked people in Nottingham. Two university students, Barnaby and Grace, both aged 19, were stabbed and later died. A third victim, school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was also killed when the assailant drove into pedestrians. Calocane is now subject to an indefinite hospital order.
- Officer involved: Ilsadin Skenderaj (Special Constable)
- Number of videos accessed: 12
- Victims shown in footage: Barnaby and Grace O’Malley Kumar
- Force statement at the time: Officer said to have been dismissed after misconduct hearing
- Family claim: Officer resigned before disciplinary outcome; families were not fully informed
Questions for the force and the inquiry
The revelation has reopened questions about internal procedures for accessing sensitive material and how families are updated about disciplinary processes. The family says the truth emerged only after details surfaced during the public inquiry into the incident.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Officer status | Resigned in September 2023 (family says); later described as sacked by force leadership |
| Footage accessed | 12 body-worn videos, including images of medical treatment and body bags |
| Relation to case | Officer not working on the investigation when viewing footage |
Nottinghamshire Police’s deputy chief constable, Steve Cooper, has previously stated that the officer had been dismissed following a misconduct process. Families say they were told the same by then-Chief Constable Kate Meynell, but now dispute that account.
Their concerns underscore the continued sensitivity surrounding how police forces manage highly distressing evidence and how they communicate outcomes of internal investigations to those directly affected by violent crime.
