Officers highlight value of family liaison officers
Officers who have been involved in high-profile cases such as the Stephen Lawrence inquiry spoke during a course for family liaison officers hosted by Northamptonshire Police
Officers who have been involved in high-profile cases such as the Stephen Lawrence inquiry spoke during a course for family liaison officers hosted by Northamptonshire Police.
More than 40 family liaison officers from Northamptonshire and other forces across the East Midlands such as Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire descended on Wootton Hall for the day-long session.
Among the guests was Duncan McGarry, who is currently the UK National Advisor for Police Family Liaison and who has been a detective for 23 years, mainly with the Metropolitan Police.
Mr McGarry has also worked on the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, the Paddington train crash and the London bombings.
Former Detective Sergeant Cate Jackson, family liaison officer of the year in 2006, talked about her work with the families of one of Londons suicide bombers and PC Beshenivsky and PC Ian Broadhurst both killed in the line of duty.
Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Simon Fox also talked about victim identification in his role as national DVI team coordinator.
One of the course organisers, Detective Chief Inspector at Northamptonshire Police Patricia Kirk, said: It was good to have so many interesting and informative speakers. The aftermath of several recent disasters has shown the value of having properly trained family liaison officers.
This event was designed to be a development day for family liaison officers. We hope to run some similar initiatives in the future.
The day was sponsored by RIG Police Recruitment, which can provide forces with temporary and permanent staff, and Fentons Solicitors, which supplied Go bags for family liaison officers containing useful items such as Post-it notes.
Detective Chief Inspector Kirk, who works in Northamptonshire Polices Organised Crime Unit, said: The role of family liaison officers is as investigators.
Previously they have been misused but now it is more about being a conduit between the senior investigating officer and the family.
Their main role is to gather information and intelligence but they also provide the family with information about the inquiry.
The day presented an opportunity for family liaison officers to meet and pick up tips from their counterparts in neighbouring forces.
Family Liaison Officer Alan Fisermanis, who works for Northamptonshire Police in Wellingborough, said: It was good to have some input on major incident victim identification.