The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has today confirmed that its investigation into the contact Leicestershire Police had with Valdo Calocane a month before he killed Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates in June 2023 will be reopened.
It says the investigation is being reopened to consider whether information in relation to Calocane’s previous history, and an outstanding warrant for his arrest, was seen by officers following an alleged assault on two coworkers before the investigation was closed down.
The IOPC says the decision has ‘followed representations by the bereaved families which led to further enquiries with Leicestershire Police.’
Arrange a call back
Solicitor Neil Hudgell, who represents the families of victims, said:
We welcome today’s decision from the IOPC to reopen its investigation into the missed opportunities from contact Leicestershire Police officers had with Valdo Calocane in the weeks prior to him carrying out the attacks in June 2023.
We have repeatedly raised serious concerns over a lack of thoroughness, which, in our view, made this investigation insufficient and incomplete. Any other outcome than what has been announced today would have been perverse.
Sadly, it is another example of how the victims’ families and their legal team are having to fight every step of the way for what they want. And all they want is a complete and thorough investigation, full transparency and, ultimately, accountability.
They, and we, will challenge every matter which falls short of achieving these key outcomes.
We look forward to meeting the Director General of the IOPC to discuss the next steps with regards to the reopening of the investigation, which will hopefully be a chance for us to again highlight our concerns and ensure that, this time, a full and proper investigation is conducted.
The families have instructed us to request that a new team commence the reopened investigation. They have little or no faith in the quality of the current members of IOPC personnel managing this investigation.
