The nottingham inquiry

By Isla Hartley · Sports Reporter · May 5, 2026

On June 13, 2023, Valdo Calocane stabbed to death three individuals in Nottingham, UK, igniting a profound inquiry into mental health service practices. The investigation revealed that Calocane had been discharged from care just months prior due to healthcare workers’ inability to locate him, raising serious concerns about public safety.

Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, had been under the supervision of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for two years before his discharge. His last engagement with the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) team occurred via phone on July 16, 2022. After that point, he fell off the grid.

Emma Robinson, a team leader at the trust, expressed her frustration over Calocane’s discharge. “We did consider that, but we felt that within the time of decision we had no holding powers; we couldn’t work with him, we couldn’t find him at this point,” she explained. This sentiment echoed throughout the inquiry as officials examined how such a critical lapse could occur.

Robinson further noted that it felt safer to discharge someone back to their GP if they could not be engaged: “It feels safer to have somebody discharged back to the queue of the GP than open to a secondary service when we can’t engage them or we can’t do anything for them.” This approach now faces scrutiny as families mourn their loved ones.

The victims—19-year-olds Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar and 65-year-old Ian Coates—were tragically lost due to these systemic failures. A consultant psychiatrist had even warned that Calocane would end up killing someone if left untreated.

Currently, the inquiry continues as authorities assess how to improve protocols within mental health services. The tragic events have prompted calls for changes in how patients like Calocane are monitored and treated.

This sequence of events matters profoundly for those involved—the families of the victims demand accountability and reform in mental health care practices. The implications extend beyond Nottingham; they resonate across healthcare systems grappling with similar issues of patient engagement and public safety.

Isla Hartley

Sports Reporter

Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”