OFFICER SUPPORT
SUPPORTING CHILD LOSS
Following the death of her baby daughter, Detective Sergeant Laura Bassett founded the force’s first support network to help others affected by loss and to confront a societal taboo
Hertfordshire Detective Sergeant Laura Bassett founded the force’s Child Loss Support Network after recognising there was the need for colleagues who had experienced such heartbreak to receive essential care during and after what can be an extremely difficult time. Laura, who tragically lost her first child Charlotte after she was born prematurely at 28 weeks, wants to raise awareness of child or baby loss and to educate line managers so they can best support their team members who have gone through the same experience. “It’s important that people recognise that the trauma that comes with child or baby loss might stay with people forever,”
42 | POLICE | FEBRUARY 2023
said Laura, who has shared her own experience not only to give hope to others but to show colleagues that their career does not have to end because of what they have gone through. “I don’t want to gloss over people’s
And it’s not just women, it’s vital that we support men too. Often, men feel like they aren’t allowed to feel sad because it’s the woman carrying the baby but we all need to remember, they have lost a child as well, “added Laura.
“I felt that sharing my story and hearing from others bought with it a sense of comfort and hope”
grief, because everybody needs to grieve, but I know I felt that sharing my story and hearing from others bought with it a sense of comfort and hope. We want to give people permission to grieve, to feel upset and to talk about how they are feeling.
Laura was 27 when she fell pregnant with Charlotte, her first child, in 2008. While everything initially seemed fine, Laura went into premature labour at 28 weeks. Charlotte was born via C-section and quickly needed a blood transfusion as she was found to have severe anaemia. Within 31 hours, Charlotte sadly died peacefully in Laura’s arms. Medics later confirmed that during the pregnancy, the placenta had split which resulted in Charlotte losing two thirds of
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