Nottingham attacks public inquiry officially starts

The of reference for the public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks have been published, marking its official start.

Students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65, were stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane on 13 June 2023.

The inquiry will examine the management of Calocane's risk to others, the events on the day of the attacks and timeline of incidents of unauthorised accessing of information by public servants.

It is being chaired by retired judge Her Honour Deborah Taylor and has been told to report back within two years.

Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller and Marcin Gawronski were seriously injured the same morning when Calocane drove Mr Coates's van at them.

Calocane, who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia before the attacks, was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024 after itting three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder.

The case has prompted a number of reviews, including a mental health homicide review commissioned by NHS England.

Earlier this year the families of Mr Webber, Ms O'Malley-Kumar and Mr Coates, alongside Ms Miller and Mr Birkett, were invited to Downing Street to discuss the details of the inquiry.

Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said: "The bereaved families and survivors of the Nottingham attacks, who have suffered so much, deserve to know how these horrific incidents were able to happen.

"I am pleased this inquiry is now under way and I know Her Honour Deborah Taylor will undertake a fearless and thorough examination of the facts to prevent tragedies like this happening again."

The inquiry will have the power to examine all the agencies involved, including Nottinghamshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (S).

It also has the authority to compel witnesses to give evidence.

The inquiry has been tasked with:

• Producing and reviewing a detailed timeline of Valdo Calocane's interactions with public services and agencies
• Producing and reviewing a timeline of the sequence and timing of events on 13 June 2023 prior to his arrest
• Producing a timeline of the unauthorised access of case files and evidence following Valdo Calocane's arrest
• Reviewing the understanding, assessment and management of the risk of Valdo Calocane to others and his risk of offending between 2019 and 13 June 2023
• Reviewing the effectiveness of national and local multi-agency working and information sharing
• Reviewing the adequacy and appropriateness of care and monitoring of Valdo Calocane, including actions, policies and procedures when Valdo Calocane was in police custody after arrest between 13 and 17 June 2023
• Considering the S's handling of the case between 13 June 2023 and the commencement of the sentencing hearing on 23 January 2024
• Providing recommendations to ensure lessons are learned and prevent similar attacks in the future

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