Family Liaison Flashcards
Appointing a FLO
appointment of FLO smooths the process and provides vital consult between family and the police investigation from start to end.
Legal responsibility
The family of the deceased and victims of certain other crimes are given special recognition under section 4 of the Victims Rights Act 2002.
What is the role of a FLO
Involves day to day management of the partnership between the family and the police investigation. The FLO must offer, facilitate and coordinate support that addresses the needs of the family.
What should be considered when recording a family liaison plan.
- FLO selected from the criteria
- exit plan for the FLO
- objectives of the family liaison
- assess appropriate methods for interviewing family members
Exit plan
An exit plan must be developed before the FLO is deployed, and be communicated to the family at the commencement of the deployment.
Before being stood down, the FLO should ensure that victim support services are ongoing, where this has been taken up by the family.
What does the term ‘family’ include?
- parents/siblings/children/guardian
- ‘chosen’ family and persons close
- should reflect the victims culture and lifesyle
What should the O/C investigation consider regarding risk assessment and appointment of the FLO?
- the suitability of the officer for retention in the role
- whether additional FLOs should be appointed
- the needs and wishes of the family
What should the O/C investigation consider when the suspect is within the family?
- the FLO’s welfare and safety
- increased monitoring of the FLO’s work and interaction with the family
- the level of information disclosure to the FLO and, in turn, the family
- the process by which any intelligence that arises from FLO contact with the family will be managed
FLO for the suspects family
The O/C investigation should consider deploying an FLO for the family of the suspect. The suspects family may be an important source of material that could assist the investigation.
FLO role with Maori Culture
FLO should develop an awareness of the Maori culture to build a positive relationship between the family, the police investigation team and the maori community as the FLO may be involved in procedures such as ID of the body or explaining the post mortem which may be distressing to the family.
Victim Support
The FLO is primarily an investigative role but will coordinate the family’s access to Victim Support and other support agencies.
Only Victim Support staff who have undergone specific training to support family members of homicide victims will be selected for this role.
Before meeting the family, what must the FLO do?
- check with oc investigation what information you can share with the victim and what to withhold.
- be familiar with the enquiry
- have knowledge of the family eg dynamics, culture, lifestyle
- find out what contact has been made with the family by police since the incident/death
Record keeping
The FLO must dedicate a notebook to record all contact with family/NOK at the beginning of the enquiry. The notebook should be reviewed at regular interviews by the O/C investigation. Information should also be recorded on a jobsheet if appropriate.
What must the FLO do during the early stages?
- provide immediate appropriate information to the family concerning the death of the victim and explain to the family what happens next in respect of the body
- provide the family/NOK with the Coronial booklet “When someone dies” which sets out the rights of the family and explains the Coronial process.
- establish any immediate evidence, information or rumors
- establish quickly if there are any concerns of personal safety/threats or intimidation that require police protection
What does the financial support include for victims of serious crime?
- a discretionary grant of up to $1500 for families of homicide victims
- free counselling for families of murder and manslaughter victims.
- ACC grant towards funeral costs
