WITNESS SUPPORT


the fore. Therefore, giving evidence at inquest proceedings should never be underestimated in terms of impact because that staff member might, at the same time, be recalling the loss of a loved one whilst also trying to process a work- related death and inquest. This is normal but adds to the emotional burden which some staff member’s experience. We will all encounter bereavement and grief in our lifetime. Just because we experience such loss in a professional capacity, doesn’t mean to say we feel it any less, or are not entitled to grieve for that person. With the recent death of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we saw worldwide out pouring of grief and from those who were shocked by their own reaction as they didn’t know her personally and had never met her. This has its own term, ‘disenfranchised grief’, defined amongst others as those who do not feel entitled to be upset. We do see this in our witnesses, it is real, and we can provide advice and reassurance in how to deal with it, as well as signposting to our MPS Bereavement Support Group.


homes. This of course brought its own challenges and difficulties in not being able to be with witnesses in person, although on occasions they did, so as to ensure MPS staff members had what they needed to feel supported. It is this bespoke approach which is adopted across all cases. Often, the team wants to do more, but are constrained by the volume of cases that they deal with. However, the MPS is moving forwards positively in this area. The first step has been the IT’s move across to the IRSC resulting in an immediate uplift in the number of staff on the team and recruiting more Sergeants and access to a range of support functions to


time, servicing the numerous requests from Directorate of Legal Services, ensuring the MPS is identifying the risks and vulnerabilities it faces and undertaking whatever actions are necessary for the MPS to be prepared corporately. This too, is a large part of the role that sits alongside the witness support functions it undertakes to ensure they are inquest ready. Whilst the team are focused on MPS


staff, their thoughts for others is never far from their minds either. If someone has died, first and foremost, the MPS is there to help a grieving family understand how that may have happened.


“With the recent death of her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we saw worldwide out pouring of grief and from those who were shocked by their own reaction as they didn’t know her personally and had never met her. This has


its own term, ‘disenfranchised grief’, defined amongst others as those who do not feel entitled to be upset.”


The IT saw some significant changes to the way it did business during the Covid pandemic. All courts went onto a platform where they could hear inquest, and smaller pre-inquest, hearings remotely. Fortunately, the MPS had moved forward


with its Information Technology the year before and so the team was ready with its laptops to start assisting Coroners and witnesses from the safety of their own


assist our inquest case management. I see forecast growth as being the way ahead to manage inquests consistently and effectively, with the associated risk management and learning which stems from such cases. I am encouraged by the investment the IT is seeing, which will enable it to drive forward positively supporting anyone who requires it, from those giving corporate evidence as Lead Responsible Officers, to those police staff who never thought they would ever be called to Coroner’s court. At the same


DI Tina Macleod I joined the MPS in 1994, and have undertaken a variety of uniform based roles, including emergency response, firearms, custody sergeant and response supervision, then to investigations within professional standards before joining the Inquest Team with PC Hocking and PS Hardy. It was this breadth of experience and remaining in touch with core policing that enabled me to lead the team (IT) effectively and with credibility. I was fortunate to remain there for nearly ten years where I was able to make significant inroads to the development of the team that we see today. I couldn’t have achieved this without the support of Subject Matter Experts across the MPS, senior leaders, the Federation and other staff associations, and of course


48 | POLICE | AUGUST | 2023


IT members are committed and passionate about what they do. They are driven by the desire to support staff in the MPS who may be called to give evidence about the most traumatic and harrowing set of events they have ever experienced. They do not judge but act


with integrity and empathy, listening to concerns, always endeavouring to provide a professional service to the MPS in support of inquest witnesses whilst respecting the coronial process and deceased families and as an organisation acknowledging when things may not have gone according to plan, committing to any learning which may arise. The work continues to be recognised on an almost daily basis and they are pleased it is now firmly embedded as a core function of the MPS in its coronial preparations.


the team whose motivation, commitment, care and sensitivity makes it what it is today. I am extremely passionate about its work and that its core functions and values get to the heart of support for coronial processes in a professional, committed, appropriate, compassionate way. My thoughts always remain with the families of the deceased, however, there is no conflict to say that I too remember those officers and staff who have experienced a traumatic event which will also stay with them for a very long time. I have since moved on promotion (probably the only way I would’ve contemplated leaving the team) and I am now the NPCC Out of Court Resolutions (Disposals) Staff Officer to Dr Alison Heydari, Commander FLP and NPCC Out of Court Resolutions (Disposals) Lead.


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