Evidence gathered in maternity manslaughter probe

Police have started to gather evidence as part of a corporate manslaughter investigation into maternity failings in Nottingham.

Nottinghamshire Police launched a manslaughter case into Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust in June 2025, as part of its wider criminal investigation into maternity failings at the trust, named Operation Perth.

The investigation has run alongside the largest maternity inquiry in the history of the NHS, led by independent senior midwife Donna Ockenden.

At a meeting with the Ockenden review team and families involved in the review on Saturday, the force said it was "making good progress".

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob Griffin said: "Previously we have been gathering information in order to help us make an assessment of cases, but we have now started to gather actual evidence.

"While we cannot currently provide the number of cases in that we are seeking early investigative advice from the CPS, as we must protect the integrity of the investigation, I can confirm we are speaking directly with these families."

The force - which launched Operation Perth in 2023 into failings that led to hundreds of babies dying or being injured - had asked Ockenden's review team to provide information on all the cases they held.

It said this week it had reviewed 232 of the 360 family folders that had been passed on by the review.

Griffin added: "We are also working closely with the CPS over the gross negligence manslaughter aspect of the investigation, and it has approached an experienced specialist barrister to assist with advice."

"The threshold to determine criminal activity for both offences is very high, however we are focusing on those under the Offences Against the Person Act, where we assess if harm was caused unlawfully.

"This is very different to harm caused by medical negligence."

Earlier this week, the force confirmed a member of police staff had resigned after "deleting or altering" information in the investigation.

The employee had been suspended while an investigation was carried out, which eventually found no evidence of misconduct and determined the individual "did not act dishonestly or maliciously".

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