Fear of marijuana testing prevented recall: Nottingham attack inquiry

So far, the inquiry has heard that, before his escalating outbursts led to later detention, mental health professionals decided not to detain Valdo Calocane in 2020 after considering research on the over-representation of young black men in detention. This decision is now under examination as part of a review into the “events, acts and omissions” preceding the attacks. Counsel to the inquiry Rachel Langdale KC said clinicians had initially been “leaning towards” sectioning him following a violent incident at student accommodation in May 2020, when he repeatedly kicked and punched a neighbour’s door before being restrained.

A subsequent assessment identified a first episode of psychosis, but a crisis team intervention was judged to be a “safe and reasonable alternative” to detention after staff considered research evidence on racial disparities in compulsory admissions.

Calocane was prescribed medication and placed under home treatment with twice-daily visits from the crisis team following his release.

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Within weeks, the inquiry heard, he was arrested again after repeatedly kicking another neighbour’s door, causing the occupant to jump from a first-floor window and sustain serious spinal injuries. He was then detained under the Mental Health Act for approximately three weeks, the first of four hospital admissions before the attacks.

Evidence presented to the hearings indicates that he repeatedly disengaged from treatment and stopped taking prescribed medication shortly after discharge on multiple occasions.

A report by the Care Quality Commission identified a “series of errors, omissions and misjudgments” in his care between May 2020 and September 2022, warning that unresolved issues posed an “inherent risk to patient and public safety”.

The inquiry was also told that he attended the headquarters of MI5 in May 2021 claiming to have information about a case and requesting arrest, two days after his mother contacted crisis services expressing concern he was not taking medication. On another occasion he forced entry into a property and assaulted an occupant shortly after discharge from hospital.

Family members had raised concerns about the timing of his release from care, including warnings that discharge in June 2020 was premature. He was re-detained less than a month later following further violent behaviour.

The hearings, expected to run for several weeks, will examine the roles of health services, police and other agencies in the period before, during and after the attacks, and consider whether systemic failures contributed to Calocane remaining in the community despite repeated contact with authorities.

In a joint statement issued ahead of proceedings, the families of the three deceased victims said the process was intended to expose “systemic neglect” and examine missed opportunities by mental health services, law enforcement and judicial bodies.

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said supporting the inquiry was an “absolute priority” and that the organisation was committed to learning from its findings to prevent similar incidents in future.

The inquiry continues….