The police watchdog has reopened its investigation into previous assaults by the Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane, after representations from the families of the murdered victims.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) previously prepared a report that concluded Leicestershire police officers had failed to properly investigate an assault on warehouse workers by Calocane which could have stopped his murder spree a month later. Three officers were due to face a misconduct meeting but the force postponed this.
Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, two 19-year-old students, and Ian Coates, a 65-year-old caretaker, were killed by Calocane in June 2023.
On Friday, the IOPC said it would reinvestigate whether Calocane’s previous history and an outstanding arrest warrant were seen by officers before the investigation was closed down.
The watchdog said it had made its decision “after the force provided new evidence, which had not previously been available to the IOPC” and “representations by the bereaved families which led to further inquiries with Leicestershire police”.
The IOPC’s director, Derrick Campbell, said: “Our sympathies remain with the families of Ian, Barnaby and Grace. We have received a number of representations from them, and we have responded as soon as we were in a position to provide the additional details requested. This is consistent with our policy to share evidence with interested parties so they can effectively participate in our investigations.
“For a matter to be reopened by the IOPC it has to meet one or more criteria, including significant new information coming to light that requires further investigation.
“That applies in this case, and after careful consideration of this new information we are carrying out further inquiries in respect of what officers actually saw on police systems about Calocane, and in particular an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Those who are closely impacted by our decision, including the bereaved families and the officers involved, have been notified and we will complete this work as quickly as possible.
“Any decision on the disciplinary outcome of our investigation will only be made once the new evidence and the results of these inquiries have been analysed.
“Our director general, Rachel Watson, has offered to meet with the families of Ian, Barnaby and Grace to discuss this development and any concerns they may have.”
Last month the prime minister, Keir Starmer, told the families a judge-led public inquiry would take place in “a matter of weeks”. He said the inquiry would scrutinise a number of different agencies and a retired judge would soon be appointed to lead the process.
