Wednesday, 28 June 2023
New research into the experiences of homicide-bereaved families has found that very little progress has been made since Baroness Louise Casey’s review, commissioned by then Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke MP, in 2011.
The researchers, from the 糖心原创 and Birmingham City University, suggest that this means that time, money and efforts are still not being used as effectively as they could be, over a decade after the original report.
The academics replicated Baroness Casey’s 2011 report to follow up on its findings and investigate whether any of its recommendations had been implemented by government.
Baroness Casey published ‘A Review into the Needs of Families Bereaved by Homicide’ highlighting how distinctive the experiences of homicide-bereaved families are in comparison to other crime victims in the wake of traumatic bereavement. The report emphasised the need for effective use of time, money and efforts when targeting those in greatest need.
The follow-up research, in collaboration with the national charity , surveyed 278 bereaved people.
The academics, together with SAMM National and Baroness Louise Casey, who has welcomed the replication of her 2011 review, will launch their findings at an event in Parliament on Wednesday 28 June.
Their findings include:
- The impacts on those bereaved by homicide are extensive and long-lasting – it is a ‘life sentence’.
- Mental and physical wellbeing are notably impacted, as well as family/personal relationships and work/schooling.
- The experiences and needs of those in the present sample did not differ significantly from those found in the original Casey (2011) survey, which the experts suggest means that time, money and efforts are still not being used as effectively as they could be.
- Those bereaved by homicide have extensive support needs which aren’t effectively being met by current support provisions.
- Many of the persisting issues identified in this report centre around a continuing lack of understanding and recognition that complex grief processes run alongside a lengthy, complex and traumatic criminal justice process. Therefore, support must, at its simplest, consider the complexities surrounding traumatic loss.
- There appears to be a disconnect between what is being provided and what those who are bereaved need in the aftermath of a homicide. In fact, when it comes to some experiences, notably court proceedings, there seems to have been a compounding of negative impacts since 2010.
Despite decades of reforms and improvements for victims of crime, and approximately 60 years of academic research into the victims of crime and the impacts of traumatic bereavement, there remain a number of gaps in our understanding of victims of crime and their experiences throughout the criminal justice process. In particular, there is a paucity of research on homicide-bereaved people as a distinct group of crime victims.
Dr Bradford-Clarke, co-author of the report, continued: "This report provided an opportunity for those bereaved through homicide to have a voice in developing our understanding of what they encounter in the aftermath of that traumatic bereavement. It is also timely with ongoing discussions around the Victims and Prisoners Bill. The report’s findings are concerning where the experiences and needs of those in the present sample did not differ significantly from those found in the original Casey (2011) survey, and we urge immediate action on the time, money and efforts are still not being used as effectively as they could be.”
Joanne Early, CEO at SAMM National, said: “Although there have been some improvements to the criminal justice system and to bereavement support for families bereaved by homicide, it has not been enough over the last 10 years. One murder in England and Wales costs £3.2m and just 0.3 per cent of this is spent on support for bereaved families. We cannot wait another 10 years for meaningful and significant change to happen.”
Dr Laura Hammond, Reader in Investigative Psychology at Birmingham City University and co-author of ‘Life Sentence’, said: “I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with incredibly committed, passionate and dedicated colleagues on this project, and to engage with many truly inspirational people who, through no fault of their own, serving a ‘life sentence’ as a result of traumatic bereavement – are striving to make positive changes to help others like them, to ensure that they are afforded the kind of support that is needed, but which has – historically – been lacking.
“This study is important, because it enables those hidden victims of homicide – those who are often left to cope with the ‘life sentence’ that they’ve been given alone – to have a voice”.
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Lauren Bradford-Clarke in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the 糖心原创 at lauren.bradford-clarke1@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
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