Senior officials from Nottinghamshire police and the NHS who were in leadership positions during the fatal stabbings carried out by Valdo Calocane have recently been promoted, prompting concern and criticism from victims’ families. The incidents, which occurred in June 2023, resulted in the deaths of Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, both 19, and Ian Coates, 65. Calocane also used a van to injure three pedestrians following the stabbings.
Rob Griffin, who was the assistant chief constable of Nottinghamshire police at the time and led the police response on the night of the attacks, has been promoted to deputy chief constable with a salary exceeding £155,000. Griffin had publicly apologized for the police’s failure to apprehend Calocane before the killings, despite a warrant issued nine months earlier related to an earlier assault charge. He acknowledged shortcomings in the coordination of the search after the initial attacks, including delayed distribution of Calocane’s image and the failure to deploy firearms officers or share eyewitness reports promptly.
Families of the victims have criticized Griffin's promotion. Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber, described it as “a slap in the face” for those affected, expressing frustration that accountability has not extended to senior leadership. Griffin had initially stated that nothing could have been done to prevent the killings, a comment he later regretted for its tone.
At the NHS level, Amanda Sullivan, who was chief executive officer of the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) during the attacks, has expanded her role and now leads three NHS ICBs, with her salary increasing to £312,500. While Sullivan did not have direct responsibility for Calocane’s treatment, the ICB oversaw Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, where failings in patient management were identified. Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, had been sectioned multiple times but discharged after refusing treatment. An independent review criticized the ICB’s oversight, noting concerns about the trust’s ability to implement necessary safety improvements were raised but not fully addressed.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father, Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, questioned the adequacy of the ICB’s intervention following earlier violent incidents involving patients with similar diagnoses. He argued that more decisive action should have been taken to address risks posed by dangerous patients, especially given a pattern of serious incidents in the year preceding the killings.
In response to these concerns, an ICB spokesperson said that Sullivan’s expanded responsibilities and salary reflect governmental NHS restructuring and national pay frameworks for senior executives. Nottinghamshire police clarified that Griffin’s promotion followed a formal selection process and vetting completed in mid-September 2026, after he had served temporarily in the role since April 2025.
The families of the victims continue to seek greater accountability among senior leaders, emphasizing that preventing future tragedies requires systemic changes and responsible oversight from all levels of involved organizations. Meanwhile, official statements acknowledge both the complexity of the case and the necessity for continued learning and improvement in handling patients with severe mental health issues.