Family liaison officers (FLOs) work closely with families throughout the criminal justice process, offering them practical advice and signposting services. They can also provide emotional support to families who often feel isolated during this difficult time. Family liaison officers (FLOs) provide a vital role in supporting the families of victims, witnesses, and suspects in serious crimes. They are trained to be empathetic, non-judgemental, and supportive.

Trustees from Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust visited a West Yorkshire Police training session at Featherstone Rovers Rugby Club, to share their experiences of working with the police, FLOs and what kind of impact this can have on families who have been affected by crime, as well as what FLOs need to consider when working with victims. The training aimed to help the FLOs understand how they can make a positive difference to families while sharing knowledge on the third-party services available to them.

Understanding the need for empathy

In some cases, the investigative work of policing can place more focus on bringing a criminal to justice than supporting the victims. It is crucial for police officers to use empathy when working with victims and their families.

It is important for Family Liaison Officers and police professionals to remember that victims of crimes are people and that they need to remain professional and empathetic whether in courtrooms or whilst working on the case. Victims of crime are often going through a very difficult and emotional time, and it is crucial that they are treated with respect, sensitivity, and compassion.

Eric, from Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust, used the training session to share his experiences from a very difficult time experienced by his family due to the murder of their daughter Samantha. He explained to the trainees that his family felt disrespected and unsupported at numerous points during the legal process, for example in court FLOs were overheard making light of how the case would be delayed due to clerical errors, as well as how the police often spoke very technically or overly professional when discussing matters the family found traumatic.

Family Liaison Officers and police professionals need to remember that their interactions with victims and their families can significantly impact their well-being and recovery.

How training can help improve the experience between an FLO and a family

The FLO training session explained how using language that refers to victims and their families as a “job” can create a sense of distance and detachment, which can make it harder for them to feel heard and supported. By using empathy, police officers can create a more positive and supportive experience for victims and their families, which can help to build trust and improve outcomes. Empathy involves taking the time to listen to and understand the needs and concerns of victims and their families, and responding in a way that is respectful and compassionate.

The training session showed that by taking the time to listen to and understand the needs and concerns of victims and their families, and responding in a way that is respectful and compassionate, Family Liaison Officers can help to ensure that victims feel supported and valued throughout the criminal justice process.

Support is available from third parties.

It is important for Family Liaison Officers to have an understanding of third-party support available to victims, so they can advise families on where to turn for other support. FLOs play a crucial role in providing emotional and practical support to families affected by crime but cannot provide all the support that families may need.

By having a good understanding of third-party support available to victims, FLOs can help to ensure that families are aware of all the options available to them. This may include referring families to other organizations that can provide specialist support, such as counselling or financial assistance.

During the training session, Eric from Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust used the opportunity to explain the charity and the support offered to victims of crime. He highlighted some of the cases that the charity had dealt with in the past and explained how they were able to offer a little support to those affected. Eric emphasized that the foundation’s main aim is to support families who have been affected by crime and to help them to deal with the emotional and practical challenges that arise as a result. He explained that the foundation provides a range of services, including emotional support, practical advice, and financial assistance where appropriate.

Overall, Eric’s presentation helped to raise awareness of the important work that the Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust does and provided the trainees with a better understanding of the support available to victims of crime. By providing families with a comprehensive list of support options, FLOs can help to ensure that families receive the holistic support they need to recover from the impact of crime.

Making an impact

The trustees from SSFT felt that the training session had two key takeaways.

Firstly, the trainees finished the session with a better understanding of what the Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust does and how to advise families on the support available to them. This is important because it means that families affected by crime are more likely to receive the help and support they need.

Secondly, the training highlighted how language and terminology can have a big impact on the way victims feel towards police officers. By using empathetic and respectful language, police officers can help to build trust and improve outcomes for victims of crime. The trustees felt that these two takeaways were particularly important, as they help to ensure that victims of crime are treated with the respect and sensitivity they deserve and that they receive the support they need to recover from their experiences.

Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust works with organizations across West Yorkshire to help raise awareness of the problem of Child Sexual Exploitation and support victims affected by this and other crimes.

The foundation provides a range of services, including emotional support, practical advice, and financial assistance where appropriate. Moreover, the foundation also collaborates with other organizations to help raise awareness of the issue and to provide a more comprehensive support network for victims.

If you are interested in learning more about the foundation’s work or would like to organize a visit from the team, please reach out to ss-ft@outlook.com