Staff from the police watchdog allegedly described the inquiry into the 2023 Nottingham stabbings as "politically motivated", drawing fierce criticism from victims' families. Investigators from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) reportedly told Leicestershire Police officers that their disciplinary case was "being driven by the families of the victims".
The officers facing disciplinary action have since lodged a formal complaint against the IOPC investigators who conducted their interviews. These officers had previously failed to arrest Valdo Calocane one month before he went on to kill three people in Nottingham.
The attack claimed the lives of students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, both aged 19, along with 65-year-old caretaker Ian Coates. Calocane fatally stabbed all three victims in separate incidents across the city.
Mother's horror at comments
Emma Webber, Barnaby's mother, expressed outrage at the alleged remarks made by IOPC staff. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the comments filled her with "pure horror".
"This bombshell that the officers themselves have now made a formal complaint with regards to their investigation and interviews in the investigation itself, it's just mind-blowing," Webber said. "It's indicative of the whole sorry, terrible, tragic mess and the car crash of our institutions."
She condemned the suggestion that the investigation was politically driven, stating: "How disrespectful and inhumane is that, you know? To think that it is politically driven. We just want the truth and people that just didn't do their jobs properly or failed or were neglectful, they must be held to account."
Trust breakdown with institutions
Webber revealed her complete loss of faith in the police watchdog's ability to conduct proper investigations. "I don't trust anyone, I don't trust the IOPC. I have no faith in them as a body to do the jobs properly," she said.
The grieving mother emphasised the preventable nature of the tragedy, adding: "At the heart of this we've lost our child, and it's entirely preventable."
IOPC launches external probe
The IOPC acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations against its staff members. A spokesperson confirmed they are treating the matter with utmost gravity and have commissioned an external party to investigate the claims.
"We are aware of allegations made about IOPC staff by Leicestershire Police officers who are subjects of an IOPC investigation," the spokesperson said. "The allegations involved comments alleged to have been made about that investigation."
The external investigation will examine both the officers' complaints and separate concerns raised by the victims' families about the overall inquiry. The IOPC pledged to provide regular updates to families as the investigation progresses.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
