Dr. Sarah Hughes of Mind criticized mental health groups for failing to address the risk of violence from a minority of people with severe mental illnesses, citing the 2023 Nottingham attacks where Valdo Calocane, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, killed three people.
Dr. Sarah Hughes, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind, accused the sector of failing to acknowledge the risk of violence from a minority of people with severe mental illnesses, citing the 2023 Nottingham attacks as a case study. The inquiry into the killings of 19-year-old Barnaby Webber, 19-year-old Grace O’Malley-Kumar, and 65-year-old Ian Coates by Valdo Calocane highlighted systemic failures in addressing violent risks, according to Hughes.
The public inquiry into the 13 June 2023 attacks examined Calocane’s history of violent incidents, including repeated refusal to take medication and four sectionings within two years. His mother, Celeste Calocane, described the mental health system as “so broken” during her testimony in May. Calocane, who was later sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after admitting three counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder, had a documented pattern of aggression.
Mental health groups have ‘failed to acknowledge’ risk of
We, as a charity sector, have failed to acknowledge that violence does happen in some circumstances,
Hughes said in an interview with The Guardian. She emphasized that while the majority of people with mental health conditions are not violent, some do and the consequences are grave. The inquiry heard evidence from local authorities, health professionals, and Calocane’s family, scrutinizing the events, acts, and omissions leading to the killings.
Hughes argued that mental health charities have avoided discussing violence risks to reduce stigma, but this approach has brushed under the carpet critical issues. Stigma and discrimination are incredibly harmful, however our efforts to reduce them have, at times, meant that some of the most difficult topics have been brushed under the carpet,
she said. The charity held a roundtable with experts in Westminster to discuss how mental health services could better balance safety and advocacy.
Emma Webber, whose son Barnaby was killed by Calocane, supported Hughes’s stance. I do feel like danger to others has been almost deliberately quietened down in the conversation in the past,
she said. Webber criticized the lack of acknowledgment from mental health organizations, adding, Had the risks in Calocane’s case been understood, then I genuinely believe we wouldn’t be having this conversation today.
Mental disorders
Seena Fazel, a professor of forensic psychiatry at the University of Oxford who attended the event by Mind, noted that while people with schizophrenia have an elevated risk of violence compared to the general population, the absolute risk is small. Only a minority will commit a serious violent act,
he said. He highlighted that risk increases with factors like substance abuse, a history of violence, or victimization. Treatments we already have, and which are widely available, can bring that risk down,
Fazel said.
Hughes, who has experienced violence as a mental health practitioner, acknowledged sector fears that addressing violence risks could worsen stigma. Many in the sector feared that addressing such issues could increase stigma and discrimination, and that could lead to dangerous health outcomes,
she said. She stressed the need for open dialogue to prevent future tragedies.
The inquiry into the Nottingham attacks has examined Calocane’s repeated refusal to take medication and his four sectionings in the space of two years. His mother’s testimony underscored the systemic failures in his care, with Celeste Calocane describing the mental health system as “so broken.” The case has reignited debates about how mental health systems balance compassion with public safety, as families like Webber’s demand systemic reforms to prevent similar tragedies.
Experts and advocates emphasize that while the majority of people with mental health conditions are not violent, the risks associated with severe untreated illnesses must not be ignored. Hughes called for a more comfortable
discussion around violence and mental health, stating, The consequences are grave.
The findings from the inquiry, which concluded its hearings, may shape future policies on risk assessment and care for individuals with severe mental illnesses.
