APPENDIX 79
Memorandum submitted by the Scottish Police
College
INQUIRY INTO PRIVACY AND MEDIA INTRUSION
ISSUES—THE ROLE OF POLICE FAMILY LIAISON OFFICER
The police, on a daily basis, come into contact
with relatives of the victims of a variety of traumatic and often
tragic incidents. These are literally life-changing events for
relatives and coming to terms with them can undoubtedly be helped
or hindered by the relationships developed with representatives
of the various agencies they have to deal with as the investigation
and the legal process move forward. Traditionally legal processes
of this nature have been undertaken in the public interest rather
than the interests of victims or their families, but more recently
there is an acceptance of the needs of victims in the process.
Family liaison is a formalised relationship
between the police service and the family of a victim. While dealing
with the families of victims is a traditional role for the police,
codified arrangements for how this should be undertaken are a
recent development. The first training course in this subject
was held at the Scottish Police College in 1999.
Family Liaison Officers are experienced investigators—that
is their primary role. However their training equips them to work
with people experiencing trauma and understand how difficult it
can be for a family to concentrate on the needs of a police investigation.
The principal duties of the Family Liaison Officer are:
— To obtain relevant background details
of the victim and family members.
— To act as a consultant to the family
in respect of legal procedures.
— To act as a consultant to the family
in respect of police investigation procedures.
— To advise the family on the progress
of the investigation.
— To provide support and information
in a sensitive and compassionate manner to the family of victims.
Training for Family Liaison Officers involves
initially a weeks-training course at the Scottish Police College.
The course involves a number of aims learning outcomes to provide
the skills needed by those fulfilling the role of Family Liaison
Officers.
One of the aims of the course is to provide
officers with the skills and knowledge to assist the family and
the investigation generally in respect of media attention. Unfortunately
in most of the tragic incidents, which require a Family Liaison
Officer, there is a large media interest. In most occasions this
is seen as an unwelcome intrusion by the family and there were
many examples of families being subjected to tremendous stress
and hurt through inappropriate actions of the media.
The media training includes information on the
role and advice and support that Force Media Relation Officers
can provide. The requirement for a media strategy, which considers
the families needs and the needs of the investigation and the
problems likely to occur where there is high media interest. Inputs
are provided by Police Media Relation officers, family members
who have experienced media attention during an investigation and
experienced Family Liaison Officers.
Family Liaison Officers are able to provide
support and advice to family members in respect of media involvement.
Preparing a family as to the attention they will receive is an
important element reducing the shock and ensuring that families
are not caught off guard releasing information that they did not
intend to appear in the press. In addition the Family Liaison
Officer, if the family wish, can be present during media interviews
to provide support. The Family Liaison Officer can also advise
the family of the necessity to accept that there will be a level
of public interest and that it may be beneficial if the family
provide some information and items such as photographs of the
deceased to the press allowing the family to keep some control
of what appears in the media.
In addition to family liaison training the Scottish
Police College also provides training for Family Liaison Mentors.
These are experienced officers who will undertake the role of
mentoring Family Liaison Officers. To supplement the media training
a workshop is provided for students on the mentoring course. The
Press Complaints Commission provides significant support with
inputs being provided by the Director Mr Guy Black. Training is
given on the actions that the Press Complaint Commission can undertake
and their Code of Practice and examples are provided by way of
case studies. In addition Mr Derek Stuart Brown, News Editor at
the Sun Newspaper (Scotland) takes part in the training
providing a viewpoint from the press. This training has provided
Family Liaison Mentors with a extensive knowledge in the media
field allowing them to advise Family Liaison Officers in the field
as to what action they can and should take with media related
problems which is in turn passed on to the families. The Scottish
Police College recognises the excellent support and assistance
provided by Mr Guy Black and Mr Stuart Brown who have been responsible
for the standard and success of this aspect of training.
At present Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
(Scotland) is undertaking a thematic inspection of the role of
family liaison officers. This will involve a review of victim's
families and may give an indication of the impact the role has
had on families subject to media attention. However at this time
it is clear from informal feedback that there has been an improvement
in the treatment of families by the media where a family liaison
officer is involved. But there is still room for improvement with
numerous incidents of inappropriate actions being undertaken by
members of the media circus. Again through informal feedback it
appears that many incidents involve independent journalist.
A final but significant point is the developing
trend for the Family Liaison Officer to be targeted by the press
during the investigation. Reports have been made of officers being
followed and photographed and their families being compared to
those of the victims. The difficulty of the role of family liaison
requires that officers are volunteers. It is an emotive and emotional
role placing these officers in close proximity to families in
trauma rendering the welfare needs of such officers particularly
important. Officers are less likely to volunteer for the role
or their welfare could suffer if the press targets them and their
family.
29 January 2003
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