Nottingham Triple Killer Valdo Calocane Among Serious Offenders Set to Lose Benefits Under New UK Rules

The British government is moving to stop thousands of serious offenders detained in secure psychiatric hospitals from receiving welfare benefits, following years of campaigning by families of people killed in violent attacks. Among those affected is Valdo Calocane, who killed three people during a series of attacks in Nottingham in June 2023. The new rules aim to prevent offenders from receiving monthly benefit payments while their accommodation and medical treatment are already funded by the National Health Service (NHS).

According to the UK government, more than 2,500 people currently detained in hospitals under court orders could be affected by the changes, with approximately 200 additional offenders expected to lose eligibility each year. Some currently receive more than £800 a month through benefits such as Universal Credit. The government argues that the payments create an unfair situation in which taxpayers cover offenders’ living costs while also funding their care and treatment in secure facilities.

Calocane became the focus of renewed public attention after the deaths of university students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65. The three victims were killed during the Nottingham attacks on June 13, 2023. Calocane pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility and three counts of attempted murder. He was subsequently given an indefinite hospital order with restrictions rather than a prison sentence.

The policy change has been welcomed by relatives of the victims, who have argued that the existing benefits system failed to account for the seriousness of the crimes. Emma Webber, Barnaby’s mother, described the decision as long overdue and said her family had campaigned for greater accountability. Dr. Sanjoy Kumar, Grace’s father, also questioned why taxpayers should continue funding benefits for offenders whose accommodation and treatment were already being provided by the state.

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the government had promised to address what it considers an unfair gap in the system and was now taking action. The new restrictions are expected to cover offenders detained for serious crimes, including manslaughter, rape and attempted murder. However, murder itself is not included in this specific category because a hospital order is not available for a murder conviction under the relevant sentencing framework. The changes are intended to affect benefit eligibility, not access to necessary NHS mental health treatment.

The regulations were laid before Parliament on October 20, 2026, and are expected to come into force in early 2027, subject to the required parliamentary process. The government estimates the changes could save tens of millions of pounds annually. For the families who have spent years campaigning, the announcement represents a step toward what they see as greater fairness for victims and taxpayers. However, the policy does not reverse the losses they have suffered, and their calls for accountability continue.

Source: The Sun