About our investigation

Operation Perth is led by Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Matthew Croome with Gold Command oversight from Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob Griffin.

Operation Perth has been structured to run alongside Donna Ockenden's Independent Review. The investigation team receive family folders from the independent review which are then allocated to an investigator. A report is completed for the senior investigating officer to decide if on the balance of probabilities, a crime has occurred, or not.

The offences under investigation are Corporate Manslaughter, Gross Negligence Manslaughter, and Serious Assault under the Offences Against the Person Act.

Donna Ockenden’s independent review was initially scheduled to publish its final report in September 2025. However, following a further assessment, this date has been extended to June 2026 to accommodate the inclusion of up to 300 new families, bringing the total number of families in the review to approximately 2,500.

Operation Perth will assess all material provided by the independent review as part of the police investigation and Nottinghamshire Police is committed to conducting a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure accountability and justice for all families involved.

"Our aim is to conduct a comprehensive, professional and proportionate criminal investigation into concerns raised about deaths and injuries linked to maternity care provision at the Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust. The investigation will prioritise and facilitate the impartial administration of justice, and our approach will be underpinned by compassion care and candour, ensuring that every family affected is treated with dignity and respect."

- Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Rob Griffin

"As Senior Investigating Officer I acknowledge the profound impact our investigation will have on families and the wider communities of Nottingham. This is why our investigative approach reflects a deep commitment to accountability and integrity, aligning with our pledge to serve the people of Nottingham, and our commitment to do so with pride, compassion and integrity."

- Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Matthew Croome

The operation is structured in line with a major incident room, utilising Major Incident Room Standardised Administrative Procedures (MIRSAP) facilitated by the HOLMES action management system. The Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) is supported by Deputy Senior Investigating Officers (D/SIOs) who have oversight of key workstreams.

Home Office special grant funding has been secured to facilitate Operation Perth, which will utilise around 70 police staff performing roles including investigators, investigative supervisors, a disclosure team, family liaison officers, researchers, analysts, HOLMES indexers and document readers.