Leicestershire Police is under investigation over its contact with Nottingham triple killer Valdo Calocane.
It emerged during a trial into the deaths that Calocane allegedly assaulted two colleagues at a warehouse in Kegworth around five weeks before he killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar and school caretaker Ian Coates.
Leicestershire Police referred itself to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), earlier this week over its response to the alleged incident. The IOPC has now confirmed it has begun a formal investigation into the force.
Its investigation will “consider the actions and decisions of Leicestershire Police, focusing on their response to the alleged assaults”, the IOPC said. It added: “We will also examine whether any person serving with the force may have behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings.”
A referral to the watchdog by Nottinghamshire Police, concerning a number of prior contacts the force had with Valdo Calocane dating back to 2020, is still being assessed to see whether an investigation is needed, the IOPC added.
Officers of Leicestershire Police were called to Arvato’s logistics warehouse at East Midlands Airport, on Friday, May 5 2023, after Calocane was alleged to have assaulted two colleagues.
News of the incident emerged during Calocane’s sentencing hearing last week. Calocane was found guilty of the manslaughter of students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar and school caretaker Ian Coates in June 2023. Three people were also injured on the same morning after being struck by a car he was driving.
The IOPC said it had been unaware of the contact Leicestershire Police had with Calocane before the details were exposed at the hearing.
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 Police 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.”
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: “Following a review of the investigation, the force has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The force is actively cooperating with the IOPC investigation.”
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