What is the Nottingham public inquiry and how does it work?
SuppliedOn 13 June 2023, Valdo Calocane stabbed to death 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar and grandfather Ian Coates in Nottingham.
The killer - who had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia three years earlier - then drove into the city centre, where he struck pedestrians Wayne Birkett, Sharon Miller and Marcin Gawronski with a van, leaving them with life-changing injuries.
Calocane was sentenced to a hospital order in January 2024, after pleading guilty to three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, and to three counts of attempted murder.
What later emerged was a series of failings by authorities, including the police and mental health services - which Calocane was known to - prompting calls for a statutory public inquiry.
The Nottingham Inquiry is now hearing from more than 100 witnesses as the lead-up to the attacks, the investigation that followed and the aftermath are examined.
But what is the Nottingham Inquiry, how does it work, and what happens next?
When did the inquiry start and when does it finish?
PA MediaThe Nottingham Inquiry officially started when the terms of reference were laid out in May last year.
It was announced in February 2025, following a meeting between the families affected and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
A year later, on 23 February, public hearings began, and are expected to last for about nine weeks.
Hearings sit from Monday to Thursday every week, and sometimes on Fridays.
There will be a break from hearings over the Easter period, until 13 April.
How does the inquiry work?
PA MediaThe Nottingham Inquiry is a statutory inquiry, which means those called to give evidence are legally compelled to under oath, and to provide any evidential documents.
However, the hearings are not the same as court hearings. This is not a criminal trial and the inquiry cannot determine civil liability.
A statutory inquiry is set up by a government minister.
This inquiry is being chaired by retired senior judge Deborah Taylor KC - who will listen to all the evidence and make findings in a final report.
There are a number of "core participants" in the inquiry, who have legal representation.
Each week, a schedule of witnesses is confirmed and those people will give evidence on allocated days.
The inquiry legal team leads questioning for the witness giving evidence, and then each legal team representing the various participants can ask their own questions.
What is the aim of the inquiry?
Nottinghamshire PoliceBroadly, the scope of the inquiry is to examine the events that led up to Calocane's attacks and review how they were handled by authorities on the day and in the aftermath.
Here is an overview of what the inquiry aims to review and do:
- A timeline of Calocane's interactions with authorities, including health and social services and police
- A timeline of the sequence of events on 13 June 2023
- A timeline of unauthorised access and the disclosure of case files and evidence, and the communication between the bereaved families and survivors
- The understanding, assessment and management of Calocane's risk to others and risk of offending between 2019 and 2023
- The effectiveness of multi-agency working and information sharing
- The adequacy of care and monitoring of Calocane while he was in custody
- The Crown Prosecution Service's handling of the case between 13 June 2023 and sentencing in January 2024
- Provide recommendations to ensure lessons are learned and to prevent similar attacks in the future
What about the other reviews that have taken place?
A number of reviews, which are independent from the inquiry, have already been carried out into the actions of various organisations in relation to the Nottingham attacks.
That includes a review into Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust by health and social care watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, and an NHS England-commissioned review which found major failings in Calocane's care.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is also carrying out its own investigation into Leicestershire Police and Nottinghamshire Police.
The inquiry has taken these reviews into account but will provide a overarching view, instead of duplicate the work already undertaken.
Where is the Nottingham Inquiry being held?
Ellie Crabb/PA WireAll the hearings are being held at the Mary Ward House conference centre in central London.
There is a main hearing room, where the various legal teams, those giving evidence, the families involved and the press can sit.
The inquiry also has an annexe for additional members of the media.
How can I watch the Nottingham Inquiry?
The inquiry is being publicly live-streamed on YouTube with a 10-minute delay.
Most of the witnesses and evidence will appear on the live stream, with the exception of some sensitive material and evidence.
Some evidence is subject to a Restriction Order under Sections 17-19 of the Inquiries Act 2005, which means they will not be on the public live stream.
Transcripts are being published on the inquiry website after each day of evidence.
Who has given evidence so far?
The Nottingham InquirySince the beginning of evidence on 23 February, the inquiry has heard from witnesses from a number of organisations including:
More evidence is still to come from some witnesses who are part of these organisations.
Who else is due to give evidence?
Most of the evidence from the Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - which treated Calocane before his killings and discharged him months before the attacks - is still due to be heard.
The survivors, bereaved families, former flatmates, colleagues and neighbours of Calocane, and a number of psychiatrists who assessed the killer after his arrest, have also given evidence.
These organisations are also expected to give evidence later in the inquiry:
- Nottingham City Council
- Ministry of Justice
- Independent Office of Police Conduct
- NHS England
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Royal College of Nursing
What happens after the hearing concludes?
Jordan Reynolds/PA WireAfter all the evidence has been heard, the chairwoman will have until 22 May 2027 to produce a report of findings.
In that report, Taylor will also make any recommendations she believes are appropriate.
The report will be provided to the Lord Chancellor, who is the minister sponsoring the inquiry.
The Lord Chancellor will then arrange for the report to be published. Any findings will be findings of fact.
The families affected will not be awarded any compensation as a result of the inquiry.
Once the recommendations are made, it will be up to the individual organisations to make appropriate changes. However, they are not legally obliged to.
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