The Nottingham public inquiry is currently examining a series of systemic failures by police and mental health services that preceded the June 13, 2023, attacks. The inquiry, which began public hearings on February 23, 2026, follows the deaths of Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates at the hands of Valdo Calocane.
The Scope of the Nottingham Inquiry
The inquiry was established following sustained lobbying by the families of the victims and a meeting with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in February 2025. According to the BBC, the inquiry’s terms of reference were finalized in May 2025, tasking the panel with reviewing the lead-up to the attacks, the subsequent police investigation, and the broader institutional aftermath. Hearings are scheduled for approximately nine weeks, typically sitting Monday through Thursday, with a scheduled break over the Easter period.
Evidence of Institutional Failure
Families of the victims have characterized the events as a “miscarriage of justice,” citing a collective failure by public agencies to prevent the tragedy. Valdo Calocane, who was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia three years prior to the attacks, had documented contact with mental health services before he killed the three victims and struck three other pedestrians—Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller, and Marcin Gawronski—with a van.
Legal proceedings concluded in January 2024, when Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. The ongoing inquiry is now hearing testimony from more than 100 witnesses to determine how these institutional lapses occurred.
Key Details of the Investigation
- The Victims: The attacks claimed the lives of 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, as well as grandfather Ian Coates.
- The Perpetrator: Valdo Calocane had a history of paranoid schizophrenia, a diagnosis established three years before the 2023 incident.
- Inquiry Timeline: Public hearings commenced on February 23, 2026, and are expected to conclude in the spring of 2026.
- Witnesses: Over 100 individuals are providing testimony regarding the actions of authorities and the timeline of the investigation.
What Happens Next
As the inquiry nears its conclusion, the focus remains on accountability and the potential for systemic reform. Family members have described the process as the beginning of a necessary reckoning for the agencies involved. The final report will be expected to provide findings on whether the risks posed by Calocane were adequately managed and what changes are required to prevent similar failures in the future. The inquiry serves as a formal mechanism to address the concerns of those affected and to ensure that the circumstances surrounding the 2023 attacks are fully scrutinized.