Nottinghamshire Police Say 2023 Killings Were Not Preventable as Families Challenge Missed Chances
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 9
Nottinghamshire Police Say 2023 Killings Were Not Preventable as Families Challenge Missed Chances
3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 9
Summary
Nottinghamshire Police told the public inquiry the 13 June 2023 attacks were not “reasonably foreseeable or preventable,” despite 10 or 11 prior contacts with Valdo Calocane between 2020 and 2022.
John Beggs KC argued police mistakes were not missed chances to stop the killings, saying Calocane’s earlier incidents all stemmed from mental illness and would likely have led only to a community order even if an outstanding warrant had been executed.
Bereaved families dispute that case, and some left the hearing as Beggs spoke; inquiry chair Deborah Taylor KC also challenged his claim that the crime scenes were well managed, citing Ian Coates’ body being left for 12 to 15 hours.
The hearing follows earlier evidence of wider failings, including undisclosed documents listing explosives, previously unreported assaults by Calocane, poor communication with families and officer misconduct after the attacks.
Taylor is due to deliver a final report by May 2027, while police argued any recommendations will need extra funding for policing and mental health services.