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The recent decision by Nottinghamshire Police to promote Rob Griffin to the permanent position of deputy chief constable has sparked strong criticism from the family of one of the victims killed in the Nottingham stabbings. On June 13, 2023, Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber, and Ian Coates were fatally stabbed by Valdo Calocane, an attack that subsequently triggered a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rob Griffin had been serving as the temporary deputy chief constable since April 29, 2025, before being appointed permanently in August following a formal selection process. This procedure involved submitting an application, participating in a people panel that included representatives from staff groups and external stakeholders, and undergoing an executive interview panel which featured independent panel members. Despite these formal steps, the appointment has been met with disapproval by the families affected by the tragedy.
Grace O’Malley-Kumar’s father, Sanjoy Kumar, expressed his dismay at the promotion, stating, “I think this is completely wrong.” He emphasized Griffin’s problematic history with the Nottingham Inquiry, where Griffin initially appeared to suggest that Nottinghamshire Police could not have done more to prevent the fatal attack—a claim they found deeply offensive when he later acknowledged otherwise during the inquiry. Kumar also criticized Griffin’s lack of transparency, highlighting that the families were not informed about ongoing professional standards investigations related to the case.
Adding to the family’s distress, Emma Webber, mother of another victim, Barnaby Webber, accused Griffin of “having blood on his hands” because of the force’s failure to detain Calocane earlier. The attacker had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2020 and was subject to an arrest warrant in 2022, which was not enforced. Kumar voiced his concern over the standards expected of someone in such a senior police role, saying that the qualities of “candour and integrity” appeared missing in Griffin’s conduct. He expressed frustration at the decision to confirm Griffin’s appointment, describing it as a “reward for failure” and called on government officials responsible for policing to explain this choice
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