FOI 430639

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REFERENCE NO: 430639

I write in connection with your request for information which was received on 4^th September 2025. Please find below the response to your request:

I would like to request a copy of your policies on Family Liaison Officers, in particular, in relation to their deployment in the case of families bereaved by suicide.

I would be grateful if you could answer the following questions:

1. What guidance do you follow for the deployment of family liaison officers?

1. National Police Chiefs Council found here: Working with victims and witnesses | College of Policing
2. Your own guidance or policies, if so, please may you provide a copy
3. Other, please detail what these are

1. Does your guidance allow for the deployment of Family Liaison Officer’s in the case of families bereaved by suicide?

1. Yes, if so, please detail the requirement for deployment
2. No, if not please detail the reason for this

Reply

1. What guidance do you follow for the deployment of family liaison officers?
2. National Police Chiefs Council found here: Working with victims and witnesses | College of Policing
3. Your own guidance or policies, if so, please may you provide a copy

1. Other, please detail what these are

West Mercia Police follow the National Police Chief’s Council guidance.

West Mercia Police do not currently have a specific Family Liaison Officers (FLO) policy at this time, however we are in the process of producing one.

1. Does your guidance allow for the deployment of Family Liaison Officer’s in the case of families bereaved by suicide?

1. Yes, if so, please detail the requirement for deployment

1. No, if not please detail the reason for this

West Mercia Police do not provide Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) for families bereaved by suicide because FLO’s are there as part of an investigation team and therefore they are not deployed unless a crime has been committed. The exception to this may be as per the College of Policing Guidelines that they can be deployed to critical incidents where family liaison might enhance the effectiveness of the police response. An example of this would be a high-risk missing person.

Family Liaison officers would be deployed if a crime was being investigated that was connected to the suicide for example, suicide following domestic abuse.