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• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> The Police Family Liaison Officer's role >> The Police Family Liaison Officer's role

The Police Family Liaison Officer's role

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• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Jayne - Interview 07 >> Jayne’s husband, Jonathan, was waiting for an underground train. He was stabbed by a man who was mentally ill, apparently an indiscriminate attack.

In 1992 Jayne’s husband, Jonathan Zito, was murdered by a man who had mental health problems. Jayne was shocked and traumatised. Since then she has had a great deal of counselling, which has been very helpful. She founded the Zito Trust.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Sarah - Interview 20 >> A policeman advised Sarah to prepare a statement. One of her sons gave it to journalists when they arrived on the doorstep. The press then left the fa

Sarah’s husband, Russell, died in 2006 in a road traffic collision. He was driving a bus when the driver of another vehicle pulled out suddenly, causing the incident. Sarah was devastated and still feels that her life has been shattered.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Sarah - Interview 20 >> Sarah explained what happened when the policemen came to her at work and told her that the bus Russell had been driving had been in an accident and he

Sarah’s husband, Russell, died in 2006 in a road traffic collision. He was driving a bus when the driver of another vehicle pulled out suddenly, causing the incident. Sarah was devastated and still feels that her life has been shattered.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Terri - Interview 19 >> Ben had a ‘wonderful’ funeral. Over 500 people were in the church. Terri thinks that Ben would have been laughing because he had a police escort.

In 2003 Terri’s son was stabbed to death in his home. His grandmother was attacked too. Three men were involved in the attacks. Terri was away. News of her son’s death was very traumatic. Counselling, Compassionate Friends, family and friends have helped.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a parent >> Karen - Interview 04 >> Karen's mother's house was on fire. Karen went there in the middle of the night, but learnt that the firemen couldn't get her out.

In 2007 Karen’s mother died when her house caught fire. It is unclear how the fire started, but the coroner decided it was an accidental death. Karen was shocked by her mother’s death. She has been helped and supported by her husband and his family.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Tamsin - Interview 06 >> Tamsin heard about her brother’s motorbike accident from her father. The police drove her to the hospital to see Matthew. Losing her brother was painf

One day in 2007 Tamsin said goodbye to her brother. That evening Matthew died when his motorbike collided with a car. Tamsin was devastated. Her partner and her family support her but she misses Matthew dreadfully and the pain doesn’t get any easier.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Cynthia - Interview 02 >> Cynthia wants professionals talking with bereaved people to use appropriate language.

In 2000 Cynthia’s 26 year old daughter was killed when she was knocked off her bicycle and run over by a lorry. The inquest verdict was “accidental death” and the driver was acquitted. Cynthia was devastated and now campaigns to prevent other road deaths.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Josefine - Interview 30 >> Josefine’s husband was killed in a car accident. The police called at the house to tell her what had happened. She has never blamed anyone else for hi

Josefine’s husband, Nicholas, was killed in a car accident in 2001. Josefine was shocked but understands that death is part of life. She arranged a ‘green funeral’ and buried Nicholas on her own land. She has had tremendous support from family and friends.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Patsy - Interview 21 >> Patsy suggests that professionals must remember that those bereaved by a traumatic death may be angry and that family members must be dealt with calml

In 1999 Patsy’s son, Dorrie, was shot. He died soon afterwards. Patsy was devastated, but through her belief in Jesus, her relationship with God, her work with Mothers Against Violence and other community work she has come to terms with Dorrie’s death.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Elizabeth - Interview 16 >> Elizabeth couldn’t believe it when the policemen told her that her daughter had not survived a car accident. Marni had been driving her car. She veere

In 2006 Elizabeth’s daughter, Marni, was killed when her car veered across the road and crashed into a lorry. The accident may have happened because Marni had a medical condition. Her death was a terrible shock. Elizabeth was devastated.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Jayne - Interview 07 >> Jayne collected Jon’s ashes from the crematorium and took them to Italy by plane. She would not let them go until she had scattered them beside an oak

In 1992 Jayne’s husband, Jonathan Zito, was murdered by a man who had mental health problems. Jayne was shocked and traumatised. Since then she has had a great deal of counselling, which has been very helpful. She founded the Zito Trust.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> The Police Family Liaison Officer's role >> The Police Family Liaison Officer's role

The Police Family Liaison Officer's role

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Rosemary - Interview 25 >> Rosemary was asked if she would like to identify James’ body after he was killed by the London bomb. She thinks she and her husband probably made the

Rosemary’s son, James, was killed in the 7th July bomb attack in London in 2005. The family was devastated. Rosemary found help via family, friends, and colleagues, and through a vicar and a psychotherapist, and by creating wonderful memorials for her son.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Alison - Interview 23 >> Alison was allowed to go to the police station to see the statements and other documents that had been collected for the inquest. She wanted to be wel

In 2007 Alison’s husband and two of her young children died in their own home. Alison believes that her husband murdered her children and then set fire to the house. He also died. It has been a terrible time.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a parent >> Michelle - Interview 41 >> The police updated Michelle weekly about the evidence they were collecting for the trial. She thought they were marvellous.

In 2005 Michelle’s mother was murdered. She was stabbed. Michelle was shocked and horrified. She has found help through friends, family, a community psychiatric nurse, a psychologist, a homeopath (privately), a medium and by writing about what happened.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a parent >> Karen - Interview 04 >> After Karen’s mother died in a fire the family had an excellent liaison officer. She answered all their questions and told them what the police had re

In 2007 Karen’s mother died when her house caught fire. It is unclear how the fire started, but the coroner decided it was an accidental death. Karen was shocked by her mother’s death. She has been helped and supported by her husband and his family.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Sarah - Interview 20 >> Sarah pointed out that ordinary families who are bereaved through an illness do not have a police liaison officer.

Sarah’s husband, Russell, died in 2006 in a road traffic collision. He was driving a bus when the driver of another vehicle pulled out suddenly, causing the incident. Sarah was devastated and still feels that her life has been shattered.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Adam - Interview 27 >> The liaison officers came regularly and kept them up to date with the murder investigation. Two officers visited the family and another kept in touch

In 2005 Adam’s brother, Lloyd, was murdered in the street. He was attacked by two men, who said that they were drunk at the time. Adam, his parents and friends were devastated. Since then Adam has worked hard to try to prevent other violent crime.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> David - Interview 31 >> The liaison officers handled the case very sensitively and kept in touch after the trial. They told David and his wife what was happening to the young

In 1992, David’s son, Simon, was stabbed to death near to his home. He was 17 years old. Simon’s death had a huge effect on the family. David and his wife supported each other. They are now members of Support after Murder and Manslaughter (SAMM).

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Terri - Interview 19 >> Terri said the liaison officers were ‘fantastic’, but one upset her when he turned up without warning to bring her Ben’s shoes.

In 2003 Terri’s son was stabbed to death in his home. His grandmother was attacked too. Three men were involved in the attacks. Terri was away. News of her son’s death was very traumatic. Counselling, Compassionate Friends, family and friends have helped.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Dorothy - Interview 28 >> The liaison officer added to the family’s distress when she described CCTV footage of Mark’s death in an industrial explosion. Eventually the family s

In 2005 Dorothy’s son, Mark, was killed in an industrial incident. He was working in a waste and recycling plant. Dorothy was shocked and angry. Counselling, hypnotherapy and Compassionate Friends have helped.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Dean - Interview 36 >> After Andrew died the liaison officer was on the telephone to Dean but he did not visit the house for over a week - Dean felt disappointed and angry.

Dean’s son, Andrew, was killed in 2006. He was hit by a car which was driven by a man who was not insured and who was driving illegally. Dean felt shocked and devastated. He has found help via friends, family, RoadPeace, the Spirualist Church and others.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Martin - Interview 10 >> The liaison officer was cold, offhand and gave contradictory information. Martin wanted a link between himself and the authorities but questions he st

Martin’s wife had a part time job as a lollypop lady. When she was standing on the pavement, she was hit by a bus, and died instantly. Martin was shocked. He is bringing up two children, which is a heavy responsibility. Counselling has helped him.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Ann - Interview 24 >> Misunderstandings may occur if people don't realise the liaison officer is an intermediary between the family and the investigation team. Ann thinks t

In 2005 Ann’s son, Westley, was murdered. He was attacked by a man with a knife. Ann and her family were devastated. Ann started the organisation KnifeCrimes.org which supports other victims of crime and which aims prevent other knife attacks.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Erykah - Interview 22 >> The liaison officers called at the house for three months and then suddenly disappeared. This distressed Erykah; she realised that the police had not

In 2002 Erykah’s brother was shot many times. His death was a terrible shock, and at first Erykah couldn’t believe it. Erykah’s faith keeps her strong. She has found support via the organisation, Mothers against Violence (MAV).

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Alison - Interview 23 >> Alison cried when the liaison officers left. She had first thought they were there to support her but decided that they had only called at the house t

In 2007 Alison’s husband and two of her young children died in their own home. Alison believes that her husband murdered her children and then set fire to the house. He also died. It has been a terrible time.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Martin - Interview 10 >> Martin was asked to identify his dead wife. He was shocked when he held her hand and found it so cold.

Martin’s wife had a part time job as a lollypop lady. When she was standing on the pavement, she was hit by a bus, and died instantly. Martin was shocked. He is bringing up two children, which is a heavy responsibility. Counselling has helped him.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Julie - Interview 09 >> At first Julie did not want to talk to journalists, but a liaison officer advised them that it would be better to do an interview than avoid the media

In September 2006 Julie’s sister, Shirley, was murdered by Shirley’s ex-partner. She had suffered domestic violence for a while. Julie and the family were shocked. Julie now cares for Shirley’s son. She has been supported by her family and friends.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Terri - Interview 19 >> Two weeks after Ben died Terri’s four year old daughter attended group counselling. Her eight year old daughter had one-to-one counselling at the time

In 2003 Terri’s son was stabbed to death in his home. His grandmother was attacked too. Three men were involved in the attacks. Terri was away. News of her son’s death was very traumatic. Counselling, Compassionate Friends, family and friends have helped.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Dolores - Interview 34 >> The liaison officer was very helpful and answered questions at any time, day or night. He was very patient when Dolores forgot what she had been told.

In September 2006 Dolores son, Tom, was fatally wounded. He was stabbed by a man who had schizophrenia. Dolores was in shock for at least a couple of months. Cranial therapy and meditation helped, but Dolores still feels very sad and depressed at times.