Inquiry Reveals Assault on Officer by Killer Valdo Calocane
The inquiry into the Nottingham attacks has presented footage showing Valdo Calocane, the perpetrator, lashing out at a police officer as he was taken into custody.
On 13 June 2023, Calocane fatally stabbed Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, and attempted to kill three others during the attacks.
CCTV footage captured Calocane being escorted from a police van appearing calm before suddenly kicking a female officer, who visibly recoiled in pain.
The hearing also examined the handling of the immediate aftermath of the stabbings and vehicle ramming attacks by senior police officials.
Retired senior judge Deborah Taylor KC is chairing the inquiry, which is scheduled to hear testimony from over 100 witnesses across nine weeks.
The footage showed that following the assault on the officer, Calocane was restrained on the floor.
Regarding the assault at the custody suite, Chief Inspector Lisa Murray of Nottinghamshire Police stated at the inquiry:
"I think from the extent of [the officer's] response and reaction, it came as a shock and certainly I think she goes on to describe that in her statement."
Additional footage showed Calocane at the custody booking desk where, when addressed by the sergeant, he responded with an expletive.
He repeated the abusive language when the sergeant clarified that the concern was solely for his care.
While in custody, when asked about experiencing hallucinations or hearing voices, Calocane replied,
"I do not want to discuss that with you,"
the inquiry heard.
Murray informed the inquiry that Calocane refused to provide medical samples and only answered certain questions posed by police.
She explained,
"Some information that he was asked about himself, and that wasn't necessarily about the offending, he seemed to be more comfortable answering.
But there was certainly a lack of answer and engagement when it was evidential material that was put to him."
Police Response and Communication Examined
Earlier in the inquiry, footage was shown of force incident manager Chief Inspector David Mather receiving updates about the situation at approximately 07:00 BST, three hours after the attacks began.
Upon being informed of two fatalities, Mather remarked,
"it's not as bad as I thought,"
to which a fellow officer responded,
"it's pretty bad, mate."
Sophie Cartwright KC, representing some of the victims, suggested that Mather demonstrated "no situational awareness" by failing to issue updated briefings regarding the threat level as the attacks unfolded. She noted that some updates lacked information about attack locations and victim numbers.
Superintendent Simon Allardice, providing evidence, rejected much of this criticism but acknowledged that there was an opportunity for a more comprehensive briefing after Calocane's arrest, although a high alert level remained in place.
Tim Moloney KC, representing the bereaved families, also questioned the coordination with CCTV operators to track Calocane immediately following the first stabbing.
He stated there was "no inspired detection" and suggested that if Calocane had attempted to flee rather than continue his attacks, he could have escaped.
Moloney pressed,
"Sorry to press you on this superintendent but you would have expected a call to be made,"
"These were two brutal killings with a brutal killer on the loose, are you not doing everything in your power to try and catch this man?
"Aren't you just saying to the CCTV [operators] 'Look, serious update, we need to scour the streets for this man'?"
Allardice responded that he would have expected CCTV operators to keep police informed but agreed that a check-up call to ensure this was happening should have been made.
"I agree, absolutely. That's why I said in my answer a minute ago, that call should have been made,"
he said.
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