The Police Response for Families of Murder Victims
| Date | 01 October 1991 |
| Author | Peter Whent |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X9106400412 |
| Published date | 01 October 1991 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
DETECTIVE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT
PETER
WHENT
British Transport Police
THE POLICE RESPONSE FOR
FAMILIES OF MURDER VICTIMS
Over the years I have dealt with at least 20 murders, and been closely
involved with the surviving members of the families in such tragedies.
Having been involved in the Victim Support research into this area, and
listenedto both family members
ofthe
deceasedand members
ofthe
group
called 'Parents of Murdered Children', we should reflect on what the
families really need.
It
is not becauseany seniordetective lacks professionalismor a desire
to help in their dealings with the family but it is often the police perception
that we know what we should tell the family. I would suggest, however,
that wedo not know what the family wantunless we ask them. Whilst the
recently publishedVictim Supportresearch document indicated anumber
of things we should do for the families, it still does not go deep enough to
identify the practicalities and it almost needs a change of the sub-culture
of some detectives to ensure that the family get the best response and the
true quality of service that (a) they want and (b) they deserve.
What
Happens to the Family?
One first needs to look at what actually happens to the family when a
murder is discovered.
I. The mediawill examine their lives and any family indiscretions
are likely to be brought to the surface and published.
2. A MajorInvestigation Murder Inquiry will be launched. This is
something over which the family have absolutely no control.
They will only get information that the police think fit to
divulge.
3. They often have atotal lack of information of what happens next
and what they should do, or can do.
4. They have an inability to bury their loved one for, sometimes,
several months.
5. They have to contend with their personal grief and the family
trauma which often can manifest itself in one member of the
family blaming the other, suggesting that if they had collected
their loved one this would not have happened.
So with all this inmind and with the knowledge of the obvioustrauma
that the family are suffering when the police first become involved, what
should the police response be?
Police Involvement
This first involvement with the family is when somebody has to break the
news to the next of kin. In my years as a senior investigating officer the
356 October 1991
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