Bold statement: A string of overlooked warning signs and unanswered questions surrounds the Nottingham case, and this inquiry digs into where the system may have fallen short. But here’s where it gets controversial: the way authorities handled Valdo Calocane’s interactions with the police and intelligence services raises serious concerns about risk assessment and accountability.
Woman injured while fleeing Calocane
A 22-year-old woman fell from a window while trying to escape Calocane after he forced his way into her flat on 24 May 2020. She required spinal surgery. At the time, an officer suggested Calocane could not be prosecuted due to mental health concerns, even though he had not yet received a formal mental health diagnosis. He would later be diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in July 2020. The survivor recalled the officer telling her that, had she not escaped, Calocane could have killed her. She described feeling terrified and alone, clinging to the window before slipping and falling to the ground.Why the arrest question wasn’t asked
The inquiry questioned why Detective Constable Foster did not ask Calocane why he wanted to be arrested when he visited Thames House. Foster explained his approach was to build rapport so Calocane might share more information, aiming to stay calm and relaxed. He noted Calocane did not show anything particularly unusual. Sophie Cartwright KC, representing Nottingham attacks survivors, pressed: wasn’t it essential to ask, “Why have you come to Thames House asking to be arrested?” Foster replied that he was satisfied with Calocane’s demeanour and coherent, non-agitated response.MI5 incident report sent to police
The inquiry heard that an intelligence report from the 31 May 2021 Thames House incident was sent to Nottinghamshire Police. The Met Police emailed this report on 1 June 2021, stating Calocane had been spoken to by police, remained calm and compliant, and was allowed to leave the area.Calocane appeared calm outside MI5
Met Police records described Calocane as “calm and collected” when officers attended MI5’s Thames House. When asked how common such visits are, PC Foster said they do occur with some regularity, outside either Thames House or other places of interest, with individuals sometimes attempting to relay information to intelligence services. Calocane claimed it was his first visit to such a venue and said he had been arrested before.The May 2021 MI5 visit details
On 31 May 2021, Calocane visited MI5’s Westminster headquarters asking to be arrested. Foster and a second officer were present. Body-worn footage showed Calocane telling Foster he wanted to speak to someone but not disclosing the reason. Foster advised Calocane to keep his hands out of his pockets. When asked about his plans once it became clear he could not speak to anyone, Calocane replied that he would “go home” and even arranged an Uber to return.What to expect today
Today marks the seventh day of nine weeks of hearings at Mary Ward House in London. The sessions are expected to feature a Metropolitan Police officer who responded to Calocane’s attempts to contact MI5, another Met officer involved in managing threats to public figures and protected sites, and one of Calocane’s former roommates who was involved in two incidents in 2021.Live coverage note
This is Day 2 of the second week of public inquiry hearings into the Nottingham attacks in June 2023, where Valdo Calocane killed Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, and injured several others. The case has sparked ongoing discussion about how preventive measures and police interactions with potentially dangerous individuals are handled, and what improvements could prevent future tragedies.
Would you agree that the investigation should have asked Calocane to explain his reasons for seeking arrest more directly, or do you think the focus on Calocane’s demeanor was a reasonable approach given the circumstances? Share your thoughts in the comments.
