All the investigations into Leicestershire Police’s handling of cases after Bhim Kohli referral

British Policeman Wearing Tradtional Helmet Observes People
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images)


Investigations into a number of incidents handled by Leicestershire Police are taking place according to the watchodg tasked with complaints against the force. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) told LeicestershireLive it currently has four open cases relating to Leicestershire Police, including into the force’s contact with Nottingham killer Valdo Calocane shortly before he murdered three people last year.

Reports have also been completed into a number of other local high-profile crimes this year. LeicestershireLive approached the IOPC to find out how many investigations it is currently conducting into the force after Leicestershire Police said it would be referring itself to the office over its contact with Bhim Kholi prior to his death in the fatal Braunstone Town park attack.

Grandfather and former factory owner Mr Kohli sustained serious neck and spine injuries in the assault, which took place on the evening of Sunday, September 1, before he died the next day. A 14-year-old boy has been charged with the 80-year-old’s murder and is due to face a trial next year.

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Mr Kohli was found badly injured beneath a tree in Franklin Park on Sunday evening
Mr Kohli was found badly injured beneath a tree in Franklin Park on Sunday evening

The IOPC said it would not be investigating Leicestershire Police in relation to Mr Kholi, saying it was “appropriate” the matter was considered internally instead. A spokesperson added: "The force will re-refer to the IOPC if further information comes to light which may suggest a link between police actions or inactions and Mr Kohli's tragic death. Our sympathies are with all those affected by this tragedy."

LeicestershireLive was told by the IOPC that its findings into other incidents handled by Leicestershire Police will not be published until after the related inquests are concluded. You can find the full details of active investigations and those where findings are still to be published below

Valdo Calocane

Calocane stabbed students Barnaby Webber and Miss O’Malley-Kumar, both 19, as they returned from a night out in the early hours of June 13 last year, before killing Ian Coates, 65. Leicestershire Police is involved in the case because it is claimed that Calocane assaulted two colleagues at an industrial estate in Kegworth in May last year.

By the time officers from Leicestershire Police arrived at the scene, Calocane had fled, and he was never arrested in connection with the incident. The following month, he went on to kill Mr Webber, Miss O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Coates.

Valdo Calocane
Triple killer Valdo Calocane -Credit:PA Media

In July, the IOPC said three officers and two police constables from Leicestershire Police were "under investigation for potential misconduct" relating to the Kegworth incident. The watchdog said it would look at how inquiries were progress at the time.

It said: "Decisions on whether any officers have a disciplinary case to answer will be taken on completion of the investigation." The IOPC investigation is also "looking at Leicestershire Police’s contact with Calocane prior to the killings last June and in particular the actions and decisions taken by officers during an investigation into alleged assaults by him the preceding month at Kegworth".

The body’s spokesman told LeicestershireLive it is now in the process of finalising its investigation reports into this case.

Sindeep Singh

Bolsover Street in Leicester
A police cordon on Bolsover Street in Leicester after woman found dead -Credit:Leicester Mercury

The 47-year-old was charged with murdering 76-year-old Bhajan Kaur in Leicester in May. Singh, of no fixed address, was arrested following the discovery of the woman's body inside a home in Bolsover Street, Spinney Hills, Leicester.

Officers were called just after 8pm on Monday, May 13, after Mrs Kaur was found deceased inside the address. The police said at the time the incident had caused "some alarm" in the community but reassured people it was "isolated".

Leicestershire Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following the incident due to their previous contact with the victim. The IOPC referral was made "in line with procedure", Leicestershire Police said.

The IOPC told LeicestershireLive its investigation into this case was “ongoing”.

Religious event, Belgrave

The third active investigation into Leicestershire Police relates to a religious event held in Belgrave, Leicester, in September last year. The force was accused of being heavy-handed after a 55-year-old man outside a temple on the Golden Mile on Monday, September 18, 2023.

The man - whom the Belgrave Business Association (BBA) said was a member at the time - was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. He was later released pending an investigation. The community was marking the eve of the Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi at the time.

The IOPC spokesman told LeicestershireLive: “Following the receipt of three mandatory referrals from Leicestershire Police we are independently investigating allegations about the conduct of an officer during a religious event in the city on the evening of September 18, 2023. We understand that the incident happened in Belgrave Road when the officer sought to establish whether a procession being held as part of the Ganesh Chaturthi Hindu festival had the necessary permissions.

“A man was subsequently arrested at the scene. The IOPC’s investigation is considering complaints about the officer’s conduct during the incident and the circumstances surrounding the arrest. Our enquiries are ongoing.”

Handling of a missing person’s report

The IOPC spokesman told LeicestershireLive a new case has recently been opened relating to a missing person’s report. However, he said this was in its early stages, so the watchdog was “restricted” regarding what it can currently say on the matter.

He added: “Following a voluntary conduct referral from Leicestershire Police in July 2024 we are investigating the handling of a missing person report. Our enquiries are still at an early stage.”

Sebastian Zarnoch

Zarnoch was was found dead in his cell at Keyham Lane Police Station, in Hamilton, Leicester, after he had been arrested on suspicion of murdering Leicester woman Gabriela Kosilko. Zarnoch, 30, was first arrested on Sunday, September 3, on suspicion of kidnap relating to Ms Kosilko’s disappearance, and was later arrested on suspicion of murder.

On Wednesday, September 6, police found the body of a woman believed to be 26-year-old Gabriela, in woods close to Groby Pool. Zarnoch was found unresponsive in his cell on the same day. Despite resuscitation attempts, he was declared dead at 10.25am.

Gabriella Kosilko
Gabriela Kosilko -Credit:Leicestershire Police

At the time, the IOPC said seven people were being investigated for possible misconduct in public office. Three police officers were served with gross misconduct notices for potential breaches of police standards for professional behaviour, while the four staff members were to be subject to disciplinary investigations.

An inquest opened into the case in November last year, but was suspended until “all investigations are complete”. The IOPC has now said it completed its investigation report in March, but will not be publishing it until the conclusion of the inquest.

M1 Fatal collision

Police are investigating a serious crash on the M1 between Lutterworth and Leicester.
Police are investigating a serious crash on the M1 between Lutterworth and Leicester. -Credit:Highways England

Leicestershire Police was also investigated over its handling of a call made to the force about a man's welfare shortly before he was involved in a fatal crash on the M1 last year. The man, 39, who has not been publicly named, died when he was hit by a lorry on the motorway on the morning of Wednesday, August 23, 2023. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was understood that shortly before the fatal incident, the man had been involved in a collision in his own car and was awaiting recovery on the hard shoulder between Lutterworth and Leicester. His brother told LeicestershireLive he had contacted Leicestershire Police before the second, fatal crash, raising concerns for his brother's welfare, saying he was "vulnerable", and that officers needed to go to the scene because he feared what might happen.

That did not happen, however, the brother claimed, and almost two hours after the initial incident, the man was fatally hit by a lorry. Leicestershire Police referred itself to the watchdog in line with policy.

The IOPC spokesman said the body’s report was completed last month and findings would be published at the conclusion of the man’s inquest.