Standards of care

You should expect officials such as police officers and court workers to treat you with respect and empathy and provide you with appropriate help, information and advice. There are a range of important documents written for these officials to help them do this. These documents are referenced in support guides by BrakeCare and are useful to read if you are not sure what to expect, or you think you might want to make a comment or complaint about a service.

Click on the red links below to access these documents. These links take you out of the Brake website. To return, use your back key.

For England and Wales

The Code of Practice for Victims of Crime
This document sets out standards you should expect in your dealings with the Criminal Justice System (see section 5 of the code). It explains that, if you have been bereaved, the police should give you the BrakeCare guide ‘Information and Advice for bereaved families and friends following death on the road’. You should be provided with a Family Liaison Officer if there is a suspicion a crime has been commited. You should be kept informed of interviews with criminal suspects, notified if anyone is charged, and told you court dates when criminal charges will be heard.

The National Policing Improvement Agency’s Family Liaison Officers Guidance, 2008
This important guide sets the standard for police liaison with families. It covers a range of topics from helping a family identify or view a loved one’s body, through to keeping a family informed about the progress of a criminal investigation, to helping a family liaise with the media.

The National Policing Improvement Agency’s Road Death Investigation Manual, 2007
This document is a manual for police forces on how to carry out criminal investigations into road deaths effectively. Section 10 of the guide also provides police forces with information on establishing a ‘Family Liaison Strategy’, to ensure you are treated with respect, your needs are considered and where possible met, and you are provided with appropriate information.

The Government’s Witness Charter
This document provides you with details of the standards you should expect from officials if you are required to be a witness in a criminal investigation.

The Crown Prosecution Service’s Code for Crown Prosecutors
This document explains the standards you should expect from the Crown Prosecution Service, the agency responsible for prosecuting criminal cases.

The Human Tissue Act 2004
This document explains recent changes in the law on organ and tissue retention.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s guidelines on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
This document advises health professionals to assess and offer appropriate treatments to people affected by horrendous events such as death or serious injury on the road. It recommends assessments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other conditions, and appropriate treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. You may wish to print off this document and take it with you if you are going to talk to your GP about help available to you from the NHS.

For Scotland

The Scottish Government’s National Standards for Victims of Crime

Road Death Investigation Manual by ACPOS

The Scottish Road Policing Strategy 2005-08

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Prosecution Code

The Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 - sets out the law for human tissue retention and donation

For Northern Ireland

Police Service Northern Ireland Policy, Procedure and Guidance on FLO support in road death cases

The Human Tissue Act 2004 - sets out the law for human tissue retention and donation