Tim Hollis: Police officers have made strenuous efforts to support families
AS CHIEF constable of Humberside Police, I welcome the commitment made by the new police and crime commissioner, Matthew Grove, to improving the criminal justice system with respect to how it supports victims and their families and I share his determination to deliver improvements.
Regarding support for families of those killed in fatal road traffic collisions, a recent report in the media regarding his comments to the East Riding scrutiny committee was thought-provoking.
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Chief Constable Tim Hollis
I would, however, wish to reassure the public of the strenuous efforts already made by my officers and police staff in providing support to such families.
We are very much aware of the fact they have suffered great trauma and heartache and want to know the answer to the question "Why?".
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During my 35 years of policing, I have seen significant improvements made in the relationships we build with grieving families in such instances.
At the heart of our efforts are dedicated family liaison officers (FLO) who undertake what can be an emotionally demanding role with considerable compassion and profession- alism.
They provide not only information and advice to the family but also support during the court process which, in itself, can be quite difficult for the family.
I am proud of the work our FLOs undertake and have a high regard for them.
Indeed, we are working hard to maintain our FLO numbers in spite of current and considerable financial pressures on the force.
Regarding the specific case to which Mr Grove made reference, he and I had discussed the matter and his concerns and agreed a positive way forward.
While the question of the police service charging for the provision of full files is understandably a sensitive one, I did explain to him the bulk of the information sought had already been made available to the family. Indeed, on two separate occasions staff from Humberside Police had spent a number of hours going into the detail of the police investigation and sharing with them the evidence considered by the court.
Recognising the family frustration at what they regarded to be a lax sentence, officers also met personally with a lawyer from the Crown Prosecution Service to consider the evidence available against the charges brought before the court.
On this occasion, my officers went the extra mile in order to support the family.
I acknowledge the police and crime commissioner continues to have concerns about the wider workings of the criminal justice system and in this respect he mirrors the views of many of the public.
I would, however, wish to reassure your readers of the commitment and professionalism of my officers and police staff in providing support to families suffering the distress that follows a fatal road traffic accident, of which there continue to be too many.
5 Comments
by GoldieG
Sunday, March 10 2013, 5:56PM
“I'm sure readers of the HDM who have been unfortunate to have a member of their family killed in a fatal traffic collision will agree with Mr Hollis that the FLO do a very good job at a very difficult and upsetting time. in the end the loss of a loved one can not be brought back but what ever can be done to ease the pain and in some cases take someone to task and get them to court that's all anyone can ask of them I'm sure you all will agree.
If you don't, you go and tell someone their dearest has been killed in a accident and stop putting all those neg comments until you have walked a mile in those FLO shoes.
big up”
by AdPotentia
Sunday, March 10 2013, 11:50AM
“The arrow clowns n the PR dept. have been out again.”
by AdPotentia
Saturday, March 09 2013, 10:24PM
“Mr Hollis has, and never has had a clue what s going on at Blunderside Police, how much of a joke the force is considered by other forces or anything else n the real world. He is surrounded by management 'Yes men & Women' who are only interested in thier own salaries and pensions.”
by ferretmonger
Saturday, March 09 2013, 10:47AM
“Empty words from a pair of clowns, tell you what Tim make grove read the story about Kerry Ockelton and all the other stories in the hdm regarding crime then come back and tell us what you both think then!”
by splink
Saturday, March 09 2013, 10:09AM
“What a terrific idea , lets do away with the pretence altogether that the police have either the ability or ambition to actualy catch criminals , just turn em into councillors for victims of their innability to keep criminals off the streets , they are practicaly just that anyway where burgalary is concerned , report a burgalary now , and they simply issue a crime report No for you to claim off your insurance , your lucky if a policeman actualy turns up to view the scene nowadays ha ha ha they are a joke”