Police forces are facing criticism for not informing the families of victims of the Nottingham attacks that a man with a fixation on the case had allegedly been attempting to locate them. The man, who had been sectioned and referred to the Government's Prevent program due to extremism concerns, reportedly traveled to Somerset to find the families of Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar.
Barnaby Webber's parents, Emma and David, stated they were not made aware of the man's pursuit for 18 months. The family of Ian Coates, a third victim of the attacks, claims they were never officially informed about the individual. The man later threatened ambulance workers in London and was sectioned, but absconded from a hospital in October. Nottinghamshire Police informed the Webbers that the individual was on the run but did not disclose his history of threatening behavior or his specific interest in the Nottingham killings.
Emma Webber described the lack of safeguarding advice as "profoundly upsetting," especially considering her other son, Charlie, attended a nearby school. She characterized the police briefing as "fundamentally misleading" and stated, "We have been denied the right to protect ourselves."
Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, Grace O'Malley-Kumar's father, expressed horror upon learning that the individual was known for violence, fixated on their case, and actively seeking them out without any official warning. He had previously been visited by the man at his GP surgery, who claimed knowledge of a "cover-up" related to the June 2023 attacks.
Nottinghamshire Police has self-referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is already investigating broader failures surrounding the attacks. The IOPC has issued an apology for not informing the families about its interactions with this individual.
Valdo Calocane, the perpetrator of the attacks, admitted to manslaughter and attempted murder. He was detained indefinitely in a high-security hospital in January 2024, after prosecutors accepted his diminished responsibility pleas for murder. This decision angered the victims' families, who had been led to believe he would be imprisoned.
Nottinghamshire Police also faced criticism for failing to arrest Calocane prior to the attacks, despite an active arrest warrant. A public inquiry, initiated at the families' campaign, has examined repeated failures by both police and the NHS. Former Chief Constable Kate Meynell acknowledged the "unacceptable" failure to apprehend Calocane, noting that the arrest warrant had been placed in an unmonitored inbox.
The public inquiry concluded in June after hearing from 164 witnesses over three months. Her Honour Deborah Taylor, the chairwoman, is expected to release her findings and recommendations next year.