Police chief to be investigated over claims he ‘tried to stop journalists from publishing details of failings over Nottingham stabbings’

A police chief is set to be investigated by watchdogs over allegations he tried to cover up his department’s failings linked to the Nottingham stabbing investigation.

Chief Constable Kate Meynell will be subject to an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following allegations she tried to prevent members of the media from revealing that the perpetrator of the attacks had been reported twice before, according to the Mirror.

It was reported to authorities that knifemaker Valdo Calocane pursued Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates on two separate occasions before stabbing them to death in 2023.

Police Chief Meynell explained this carelessness in a special press briefing, but prevented the journalists who attended the meeting from publishing the information by making them sign confidentiality agreements.

This attempt to hide police failings was revealed by the Nottingham Post after victims’ families lodged a formal complaint with Nottingham Police and Crime Commissioner.

When the investigation into the Chief Constable was confirmed on Friday, relatives of the victims said it was ‘no less than what he deserved’.

In a joint statement to the media, the families said: ‘We welcome the news that the appalling actions and decisions of Chief Constable Kate Meynell of a failing police force will be fully investigated.

‘We believe he chose to hold a media briefing that could not be reported to withhold information and prevent the press from reporting further gross actions by his force.’

Chief Constable Kate Meynell will be subject to an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following allegations she tried to prevent members of the media from revealing that the perpetrator of the attacks had been reported twice before.

It was reported to authorities that knifemaker Valdo Calocane pursued Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates on two separate occasions before stabbing them to death in 2023.

The perpetrator, Valdo Calocane, 32, was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic who went on a terrifying stabbing spree in Nottingham city center in June 2023.

The victims, Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, were 19-year-old students returning home after a night out when Calocane confronted them.

The crazed knifeman then stabbed 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates as he robbed his van, crashing it and seriously injuring three more people in the process.

If the IOPC’s independent investigation determines that Chief Constable Meynell has committed a criminal offence, the case will be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Other potential outcomes of the investigation include changes to police policy or internal disciplinary investigations.

Following the stabbings, there were also calls for Chief Constable Meynell to resign after it was revealed that his own son was a Nottinghamshire Police officer.

Additional investigations were also launched against Leicestershire Police, the other force that had previously contacted Calocane.

The NHS will also be investigated over Calocane’s mental health allegations and the Crown Prosecution Service is also handling the case.

Earlier this year, both the Attorney General and the Minister of Health confirmed there would be a public inquiry into the stabbings, with families of the victims calling for it to be legal and state-led.

School caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was stabbed while trying to rob a Calocane van

19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar were tragically stabbed by Calocane on their way home after a night out.

19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar were tragically stabbed by Calocane on their way home after a night out.

Calocane pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and was given an indefinite hospital order following the attacks, but this was perceived as overly lenient by the Attorney General.

However, the Attorney General’s attempts to increase Calocane’s sentence were overturned by the Court of Appeal.

In the families’ statement, Barnaby’s mother said: ‘The suffering we have had to endure is unimaginable. No victim or family deserves to be treated this way. Change needs to happen; People in senior roles who largely failed, lied, and/or made disastrous poor decisions should be held accountable.

‘Our message to those in both police forces and the Nottingham Mental Health trust is that we will not stop until this happens.

‘Our serious concerns about the quality and culpability of the reports and investigations mean that our call for a full statutory public inquiry led by judges is the only possible outcome; Without this the truth will not come out.

‘We are putting pressure on our government to announce when this will start. Why can’t those who don’t do their job properly be honest and suffer the consequences?’

Chief Constable Meynell took up his role as head of Nottinghamshire Police in 2022 and has refused to comment on the investigation.

The IOPC statement said: ‘We are looking at the Force’s decision to hold a briefing for the media in February, which could not be reported.

‘Our investigations include assessing the content of the briefing, the delivery of that briefing to families and whether this was done in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.’