Northumbria Police, acting on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police, has opened an investigation into the care and treatment provided to Valdo Calocane by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Inquiry evidence prompted criminal probe
The move follows evidence given to the Nottingham Inquiry, which examined errors in the management and treatment of Calocane during a two-year period when the trust was responsible for his care. Calocane was discharged in September 2022 after being sectioned under the Mental Health Act on four occasions during that time.
Following the fatal attacks, Calocane pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. He is now subject to an indefinite hospital order and is being held in a high-security facility.
Trust response and cooperation
A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said the trust will co-operate fully with the police investigation and with the statutory inquiry chaired by Her Honour Deborah Taylor, which will hear final submissions later this year.
"Northumbria Police, acting on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police, have begun an investigation into matters relating to the care and treatment of Valdo Calocane."
The trust emphasised the importance of both the independent inquiry and the police investigation for affected families, survivors and local communities.
Reaction from victims' families
Families affected by the attacks have welcomed the announcement. Dr Sanjoy Kumar, father of Grace O'Malley-Kumar, said he was "delighted" the threshold for a corporate manslaughter investigation had been met and described failings across the organisation.
Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, whose son was attacked while walking with Grace, said the investigation marked a significant next step for the families.
- Trust responsibility: Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provided Calocane's care for two years before discharge in 2022.
- Legal status: Calocane pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter and three counts of attempted murder and is detained under an indefinite hospital order.
- Investigations: Both the Nottingham Inquiry and the newly announced police probe are active; the statutory inquiry will hear final submissions later this year.
What this means locally
The decision to open a criminal investigation into an NHS trust is rare and underlines the gravity of the inquiry's findings. Local health services and families affected by the attacks will be watching closely as the police examine whether failures in care may amount to corporate manslaughter or other offences.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Period of trust care | Two years until September 2022 |
| Legal outcome for Calocane | Guilty pleas to manslaughter (diminished responsibility) and attempted murder; indefinite hospital order |
| Investigations | Nottingham Inquiry (statutory) and police probe by Northumbria Police on behalf of Nottinghamshire Police |
As the police investigation progresses, families and campaigners will expect clarity about what went wrong and what lessons are to be learned to prevent further tragedies. The trust has said it will co-operate fully with investigators and with the ongoing inquiry.
