The Mental Health Minister has criticised the care provided to Valdo Calocane, the man responsible for the Nottingham attacks, describing it as “unacceptably poor”. Baroness Gillian Merron issued a formal apology to the survivors and families affected by the tragic events.

Calocane, who stabbed three students to death and seriously injured others in Nottingham city centre in June 2023, had previous contact with mental health services. The minister’s comments follow a review into the circumstances surrounding Calocane’s care, highlighting significant failings in the system.

Baroness Merron acknowledged a “serious omission” in the care provided, stating that lessons must be learned to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. While details of the specific failings remain under review, the minister’s statement indicates a systemic issue within the mental health services Calocane accessed.

The attacks on June 13th left the city of Nottingham in shock. Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Mason, and Ian Coates were tragically killed. Several others sustained life-altering injuries. The incident sparked widespread calls for improved mental health support and scrutiny of the processes involved in assessing and managing individuals with mental health concerns.

The government has pledged to take action following the findings of the review. Further details regarding specific measures are expected to be announced in due course. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of the public and providing adequate support for those affected by the attacks, whilst also addressing the systemic issues that contributed to this tragic outcome.