Nottingham Attacks Victim's Mother Reveals Insensitive Police WhatsApp Post

Emma Webber, the mother of Barnaby Webber, one of the victims in the Nottingham attacks, has written an open letter to members of a police WhatsApp group where an insensitive message was posted describing her son and Grace O'Malley-Kumar as being "thoroughly mutilated". The message, written by a Nottinghamshire Police officer, contained graphic details about the injuries of the victims, which also included school caretaker Ian Coates, 65.

Barnaby Webber, 19, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, and Ian Coates were all stabbed to death by Valdo Calocane, 32, in Nottingham in the early hours of June 13, 2022. Calocane was given an indefinite hospital order for manslaughter by diminished responsibility. The officer's remarks in the WhatsApp group described the victims as having their "internal organs exposed".

Mrs. Webber expressed her outrage at the "cold, demeaning and numbed manner" of the comments, saying they have caused her more trauma. "I have the utmost respect for the emergency services but anyone who can refer to the victims as 'mutilated animals' should seriously consider their position," she wrote in her letter. The officer who wrote the message has received a management warning.

Why this matters: The insensitive comments made by police officers in the aftermath of a tragic attack raise concerns about the professionalism and sensitivity of those tasked with handling such cases. It emphasizes the need for proper training and oversight to ensure that victims' families are treated with respect and compassion during their time of grief.

The Nottinghamshire Police force is currently under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the College of Policing over its handling of the case. The investigation found that 11 members of staff viewed material about the case without any legitimate reason, and three faced disciplinary action. Mrs. Webber has lost faith in the force's leadership and called for the chief constable to step aside while the allegations of failings are investigated. The sentence handed to the attacker, Valdo Calocane, will be reviewed at the Court of Appeal after the attorney general concluded it was "excessively mild".

Key Takeaways

• Police officer made insensitive comments about Nottingham attack victims
• Victims' families outraged by "cold, demeaning" remarks about injuries
• Police force under investigation for handling of case, 11 staff viewed case details
• Victim's mother calls for chief constable to step aside during investigation
• Attacker's sentence to be reviewed after being deemed "excessively mild"