Emma Webber,mother of Barney Webber who was killed in the June 2023 Nottingham attacks, used the conclusion of a three‑and‑a‑half month inquiry to highlight nationwide state failures. She warned against politicising the tragedy and urged that the findings spur real change.

Three‑year inquiry ends with systemic failure verdict

The inquiry, which wrapped up on 5 June 2024, found that multiple agencies missed warning signs that could have prevented Valdo Calocane’s killing spree, which claimed three lives and injured three others. According to the report, Calocane had been sectioned four times between 2020 and 2023,yet each release back into the community was poorly coordinated.

Paranoid schizophrenic Valdo Calocane released despite four sections

Calocane, a 34‑year‑old from Guinea‑Bissau, was repeatedly discharged from a specialised mental‑health team and later handed an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to manslaughter on diminished responsibility grounds. The inquiry revealed a consultant psychiatrist warned in 2020 that he “could end up killing someone,” but that caution was not acted upon.

Parallels drawn to Henry Nowak case in Southampton

Webber pointed to “absolutely” similar failures in the 2022 death of 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak, who died handcuffed after police ignored his pleas of being stabbed. The Nowak killer, Vickrum Digwa, later made false claims of a racist attack, sparking angry protests in Southampton. Both cases, Webber said, show a pattern replicated across the UK.

Families demand accountability before political exploitation

Speaking at the evidential hearings, Webber urged politicians not to use the Nottingham tragedy “to incite any more hate and any more rioting.” She echoed the sentiment of Dr Sanjoy Kumar, father of victim Grace O’Malley‑Kumar, who called the inquiry “the beginning of accountability.”

Who will be held responsible for repeated releases?

The report has yet to name specific individuals or agencies that will face disciplinary action, leaving families uncertain whether systemic change will be enforced. critics note that Leicestershire Police failed to recognise an outstanding warrant from Nottinghamshire Police, and that mental‑health teams ignored concerns about potential racism in sectioning decisions.