The Police Force recently introduced a support response team for families of victims of serious crimes, which will work with the Victim Support Agency.

Officers from this new team will be deployed in cases relating to fatal traffic accidents, homicides, disasters, suicides and other critical incidents where their presence can enhance the police response. The team provides on-site assistance 24 hours a day, to families going through tragic situations during moments of shock and vulnerability.

The setting up of such a support system for families of victims of serious crimes is an important step. While the police force's main goal is to prevent crime and to catch those who commit it, it is also welcoming to see such support being given to victims and their families.

This is a good initiative by the police force.

Victims of crime are supported through the Victim Support Agency. It is an important resource which can be invaluable, offering services such as information about their cases, guidance about what to expect in court, providing emotional support and so on.

Families of victims of serious crimes now have this dedicated team which they can turn to. Losing a loved one under natural circumstances is hard. But when family members lose a loved one unexpectedly, they go through shock, pain and depending on the circumstances, trauma. Having dedicated police personnel who are trained in how to talk to families who are grieving or in shock makes a difference. Being compassionate, sensitive, knowing the right words to say and what information can and should be given, ensuring that their needs are met with dignity, helps.

The government said that the team will act as a contact point between investigative officers and affected families, "while offering emotional, practical and informational support." The team will be there to help family members during what could only be described as a most difficult time.

"Their role includes building relationships of trust with affected families, sharing information and offering support, including accompanying family members where and when required, even during court proceedings. They also provide guidance on support services, including referrals, with the consent of the individuals involved." Since June 2025, the government said, the Support Response Team has assisted 310 individuals.

The government said that officers who form part of the team received specialised training delivered by a police officer from the United Kingdom who has direct experience in victim support services.

The training it receives, however, must not be a one off course, so to speak. It would, for instance, be beneficial for the officers of this team to receive training from psychiatrists who deal with trauma, that is if they have not already. The better trained these officers are, the better support they can offer.