Sophie Cartwright KC, representing some of the victims, suggested Mather had “no situational awareness” as he did not issue updated briefings about the level of threat as the nature of the attacks became clear and some information about the location of attacks and numbers of victims was missing from other updates.
Giving evidence Supt Simon Allardice rejected much of this but conceded there was opportunity for a fuller briefing after Calocane was arrested but a high alert level was still in force.
Representing the bereaved families, Tim Moloney KC also suggested there should have been better coordination with CCTV operators to track Calocane immediately after the first stabbing.
He said there was “no inspired detection” and if Calcocane had tried to flee instead of continue attacks, he could have been “long gone”.
“Sorry to press you on this superintendent but you would have expected a call to be made,” he said.
“These were two brutal killings with a brutal killer on the loose, are you not doing everything in your power to try and catch this man?
“Aren’t you just saying to the CCTV [operators] ‘Look, serious update, we need to scour the streets for this man’,”
Allardice said he would have expected CCTV operators to keep police briefed but there should have been a check-up call to make sure this was happening.
“I agree, absolutely. That’s why I said in my answer a minute ago, that call should have been made,” he said.
The inquiry continues.