Roads policing officers have completed training to provide a compassionate link for bereaved families who have lost a loved one in a traffic collision.

The 13 new family liaison officers will serve the Durham and Cleveland forces, providing support for people enduring heart-breaking moments, when a relative has been involved in a fatal road accident.

For many of those receiving the officers’ support, it will be the first time they have been involved with the police or been part of a prolonged inquiry and the criminal justice system. 

The newly trained officers will help to guide families during the police investigation but will remain by their side through any subsequent court hearing or inquest.

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They will provide updates, support, and signpost them to organisations which can help them deal with the trauma they are facing. 

The role of a family liaison officer is described as, “a challenging but vital role”, and one that invariably remains behind the scenes. 

It is also a voluntary one, as the officers carry out the role alongside their regular duties.

But it requires specialist training to ensure that bereaved families have the right support at their time of need.

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The 13 officers have undergone training in a range of fields, including the role of the coroner, organ donation, the Victim Care and Advice Service (VCAS), welfare and wellbeing, and helping the families to deal with approaches from the media. 

Those who do it also need to be empathetic, patient, and have good communication skills.

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Family liaison officers are unable to bring a loved one back, but with their support, they can help grieving families make sense of what has happened.

They will also, guide them through the traumatic weeks and months that follow the fatal incident, and, hopefully, help them to eventually rebuild their lives.

The officers' training was completed at the forces’ joint tactical training centre, at Urlay Nook, Stockton.