Family Liaison Officer Co-Ordination and Deployment (PD 109)

SECTION 2 AIMS OF FAMILY LIAISON

The Stephen Lawrence inquiry was a catalyst for change in how the police supports bereaved families of victims. Family Liaison has developed substantially since its inception and there have been some defining and tragic cases. Reviews of such cases have allowed the police service to reflect and continually improve its service to bereaved families.

Liaison with the family of someone who is missing or has died in traumatic circumstances is one of the most demanding of all tasks performed by the Police. Family members should be engaged in a professional and compassionate way, with respect for their beliefs and customs, subject to the requirements of the investigation.

Those performing family liaison roles should act with the highest degree of professionalism, integrity, and sensitivity. Securing the confidence and co-operation of a victim’s family can positively impact on the wider issues of community trust and confidence as well as bringing positive benefits to the investigation.

The principles set out in the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime 2015, underpin the police service’s commitment to families. In particular:
‘Victims of crime should be treated in a respectful, sensitive, tailored and professional manner without discrimination of any kind.’

In this context the word ‘family’ includes partners, parents, siblings, children, guardians, and others who may not be related but have a direct and close relationship with the victim.

Family liaison can be used across a broad spectrum of investigations, including:

• Murder and manslaughter
• Fatal road traffic collisions
• Mass fatality incidents
• Rail fatalities, and
• Critical incident where family liaison might enhance the effectiveness of the police response.

The primary role of a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) is as an investigator, and the FLO will be responsible for gathering the evidence from the family that will assist the investigation. The key aims are to:

• To secure the confidence and trust of the family, thereby enhancing their contribution to the investigation (this can positively impact on the wider issues of community trust and confidence, as well as bringing positive benefits to the investigation)
• To gather material from the family in a manner which contributes to the investigation and preserves its integrity
• To work with the family to comply with their right to receive all relevant information connected with the enquiry, subject to the needs of the investigation, in a way that is proportional to their fundamental right to privacy and family life
• Ensure that the family are given information about support agencies and that referrals as appropriate are made to the Victim Homicide Service / Victim / Witness support / NHS specialist services and other identified credible agencies in accordance with the family’s consent and wishes.

SECTION 3 DETAILS

The roles within family liaison

Strategic Lead

A senior leader in each force should take strategic leadership for family liaison. They should ensure an efficient and effective family liaison response, including the deployment of FLO’s to bereaved families.

Senior Investigating Officer

The SIO is responsible and accountable for all aspects of the investigation; this includes setting the family liaison strategy with the FLA and supporting and supervising the FLOs.

Senior Identification manager (SIM) – In cases of mass fatality

The SIM is responsible for overseeing the recovery and identification process. They will work closely with the coroner to prepare evidence for the Identification Commission and the SIO.

Force Family Liaison Lead / Family Liaison Co-ordinator

This role is skill specific, not rank specific.

The FLC manages the deployments of FLO’s and FLA’s within a police service and are responsible for providing or arranging support, guidance, and development opportunities for those involved in family liaison, and will be the Force point of contact.

Family Liaison Advisor (FLA)

An FLA will be responsible for the deployment of FLO’s, setting the strategy and will report to a SIO or FLC. The FLA will resolve disagreements with any departmental/area managers regarding the deployment of FLO’s.

In setting the strategy, the FLA should consider:

1. The requirements of the investigation
2. The needs of the family and
3. The selection, deployment, supervision, and management of the FLO’s.

The FLA is responsible for the risk assessment of all FLO deployments.

Objectives for a family liaison strategy

The trauma associated with a sudden, unexpected tragedy places the family of a victim under immense personal pressure at a time when the investigation could be making significant demands for detailed information. Sensitivity, compassion and respect for the family’s needs and requirements underpin family liaison.

Initial priorities should establish the needs, requirements, and communication with the family to allow information to be gathered, but also to furnish them with any information that they require, taking the needs of the investigation into account.

The following objectives should be considered as part of the FLO strategy:

• Gather evidence and information from the family in a manner which contributes to the investigation and preserves its integrity
• Provide relevant information to the family, subject to the needs of the investigation, and in a way that respects their human rights
• Provide the family with information about support that is available, and where appropriate make referrals to relevant support services with the consent of the family, considering the General Data Protection Regulation 2018
• Explain coronial and victim identification procedures, and criminal justice processes to the family
• Explain the police communication and media strategy and assist the family in managing the potential impact the media may have on them and the investigation
• Ensure the health and wellbeing of family liaison officers
• Manage the conclusion or withdrawal of family liaison deployments

The FLA should ensure that FLOs remain focused on achieving the strategic objectives set for them. It is only when these objectives are met that the FLO will conclude their deployment.

When the FLO first meets the family, they should clearly explain their role. The SIO should also meet the family at the earliest opportunity. This will help to manage the family’s expectations and help them to understand the point at which the FLO will conclude their deployment.

In murder cases that result in an acquittal at court, the police and CPS have agreed to comply with national standards of support to families and a review of the investigation. See CPS publication Justice after acquittal - National standards of support (Appendix 2).

Family Liaison Officer (FLO)

The primary function of a FLO is as an investigator. Their role is to gather evidence and information from the family to contribute to the investigation and preserves its integrity. The FLO also provides support and information, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, securing confidence and trust of families of victims of crime (primarily homicide), road fatality, mass disaster, rail fatality or other critical incident, ensuring family members are given timely information in accordance with the needs of the investigation.

Professional role profiles for the FLC, FLA and FLO can be found on the College of Policing website.

VICTIMOLOGY

Developing a full victimology or lifestyle information about the person who has died is an important aspect of the investigation. Understanding the lifestyle of a victim may help to identify evidence opportunities, including any link between the suspect(s) and victim(s), and establish the reason for their death. The level of detail required will determine the information sought from the family.

DEPLOYMENT

The responsibility for selection and deployment of a FLO will lie with the FLA. However, the SIO can request a specific FLO for their personal skill set, language or cultural knowledge/experience, etc. The decision will be based on the criteria identified by the SIO as well as:

• Availability
• Current workload
• Specialist knowledge and expertise
• Previous deployment history
• Suitability for the specific deployment
• Culture and religious considerations

It is accepted that there will be occasions when the requirement for a FLO is of an urgent nature. However, under normal circumstances the deployment of a FLO will follow a proper briefing including the agreement of a strategy and the completion of a risk assessment. Death messages will be delivered expediently and not specifically by a FLO. If this is not possible then a FLO should be deployed as soon as practicable thereafter.

The first stage in the deployment process will be identification of the family which may be complicated by the family dynamics, i.e., being split through divorce or separation. The SIO/FLA/FLC will need to consider these family dynamics in detail to ensure the most effective and appropriate deployment.

Once the need for the deployment of a FLO has been identified by the SIO, they will contact the FLA and give them a summary of the incident and details of the family.

The FLA will determine a suitable FLO and contact them directly. If the FLO has no prohibiting reason why not, they will be deployed immediately.

At the initial stage of selection, it is the responsibility of the FLO to immediately bring to the attention of the FLA any reason why they may not be suitable for a specific deployment.

Once selected, the FLO will be briefed by the FLA or the investigative team in relation to the operation, strategy, and assessment.

The selection of an FLO will be case dependent, considering whether the family are known to the FLO, risk assessment, previous contact, etc.

A FLO can be appointed in operations outside of homicide investigations. These could include missing persons, sudden and unexplained death of an infant or death of an elderly person in a care home. The list of what an FLO can be used for is not exhaustive and the policy does not attempt to identify specific incidents.

The needs of the family are paramount. Factors which may impact on the FLO deployment include:

1.  Gender – may be a critical factor for cultural, religious, and other reasons
2. Where the victim is from a minority group, i.e., ethnicity, hard of hearing, mental frailties, elderly
3. Community impact
4. Hate crime element
5. Where there is direct involvement of a solicitor or community organisation acting on behalf of or for the family in such a manner that direct contact with the family is limited
6. Risk assessment

FLO’s do not necessarily need to be deployed to deliver a ‘trauma’ message. This is a core policing skill.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The FLO/A database will be managed by the Family Liaison Lead/Coordinator (FLC). All administrative matters relating to Family Liaison will be dealt with by this individual.

FLO’s will normally be deployed in pairs with one FLO coming from either Homicide, SCIU or CID and supported by a suitable FLO from a different area of policing within a PIP2 role.

Newly appointed FLO’s will be deployed with more experienced FLO’s in a mentoring role to allow the less experienced FLO to gain experience.

Due to the nature of the role, FLO’s can self-refer to the Occupational Health Unit at any time but otherwise referrals for counselling will be made annually.

A FLO logbook will be maintained throughout each Family Liaison deployment. This is an official document and as such is accessible to all parties involved in the judicial system.

SECTION 4 LEGISLATIVE COMPLIANCE

This document has been drafted to comply with the general and specific duties in the Equality Act 2010; Data Protection Act; Freedom of Information Act; European Convention of Human Rights; Employment Act 2002; Employment Relations Act 1999, and other legislation relevant to policing.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Type of Document:
Procedure

Version:
1.2

Registered Owner:
Head of Homicide

Author:
Det Insp Melanie Crutchley

Effective Date:
July 2022

Review Date:
May 2025

Replaces Document (if applicable):
Version 1.2

Linked Documents:
NPCC – The roles and structure of family liaison
College of Policing APP
All Policies and procedures where the use of a Family Liaison Officer may be required.