Valdo Calocane: Police investigated over prior contact with killer

The police watchdog has begun an investigation into the contact that officers in Leicestershire had with triple killer Valdo Calocane.

Calocane was reported to Leicestershire Police for allegedly assaulting two colleagues just weeks before he killed three people in Nottingham.

However, Calocane was not arrested by the force.

Details about the alleged assaults were only made public when Calocane was sentenced for manslaughter.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said: "During the [court hearing], several incidents involving previous police contact with Calocane were brought to our attention which we were unaware of.

"As a result, we asked Nottinghamshire Police and Leicestershire Police to provide us with information about those incidents to establish whether there are any matters that should be referred to us."

Leicestershire Police then referred itself to the IOPC on Monday, in relation to its investigation into the alleged assaults.

Nottingham Crown Court was told they are alleged to have happened on 5 May, at a warehouse in Kegworth belonging to Arvato Supply Chain Solutions, where Calocane had started working four days before.

This was less than six weeks before Calocane stabbed to death 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates, on 13 June.

The IOPC said its investigation would consider the actions and decisions of Leicestershire Police, focusing on its response to the alleged assaults.

It will also examine whether any person serving with the force may have behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary proceedings.

The IOPC also received a referral from Nottinghamshire Police on Tuesday concerning prior contact it had with Calocane, dating back to 2020.

The watchdog is still considering whether or not to investigate this.

IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: "First and foremost, my thoughts and sympathies go to Barnaby's, Grace's and Ian's families and friends and everyone who has understandably been affected by the tragic deaths and the injuries sustained in June last year.

"We have been in contact with Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire Police recently about the referrals, which followed the level of public concern raised by the trial last month.

"Our investigation will be thorough and completely independent of the police. We will be looking at whether the investigation into the alleged assaults was progressed properly and whether this presents any opportunity for individual or organisational learning."

The families of Calocane's victims have all raised concerns about the contact police had with him before the killings, and how the case was handled by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The actions of the CPS are being examined by His Majesty's Crown Prosecution Inspectorate (HMCPSI), which has said it will publish its report on 25 March.

HMCPSI's deputy chief inspector, Anthony Rogers, said: "It is now our job to diligently and objectively review the CPS's actions and as part of that, we will be writing to the bereaved families so that we can understand their concerns."

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]