06) - FLO (Family Liaison Officer)

Question 1

Role of the Family Liaison Officer (FLO)

Answer 1

• The day-to-day management of the partnership between the family of the deceased and the Police investigation.
• Must also offer, facilitate and co-ordinate support that addresses the needs of the family.

Of note

• The primary function of an FLO is that of an investigator and not a support person.

Question 2

Family Liaison Plan

The plan should be recorded and consider:

Answer 2

Staff
* selection of the FLO and criteria employed for the selection
* exit plan for the FLO
* objectives of the family liaison

Information
* information to be released to and withheld from, the family
* assessing the most appropriate methods of conducting interviews with family members

Liaison
* Victim support liaison
* Requests/complaints made by family

Question 3

The term ‘family’ includes:

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Answer 3

• partners, parents, siblings, children, guardians, whänau and any others who have had a direct and close relationship with the victim
• includes ‘chosen’ family
• should reflect the victim’s culture and lifestyle.

Question 4

Suspect within the family

The OC Investigation must review the plan regularly, which should consider:

Answer 4

• FLO’s welfare and safety
• FLO needs to be clear in their interactions with the family
• FLO not to be used in any search or arrest of a family member
• Investigative or evidential impact of deployment

Question 5

Disclosure of information to the family

Throughout investigation, the family should be notified of:

Answer 5

• S11 - Programmes, remedies, or services available through Police to the family as victims in their own right
• S12 - Progress of the investigation
• Family’s role as witnesses in the prosecution of the offence

Question 6

Disclosure of information to the family

Where an offender is arrested, the FLO (in consultation with O/C Investigation) must inform the family of:

Answer 6

• The offender’s release on Bail and what those conditions of bail are
• Charges
• Views on Bail
• Views on Name suppression
• Court Date and location
• Inform family about VNR

Question 7

Early issues for resolution - during the early stages the FLO must:

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Answer 7

• Provide information concerning the death of the victim
• Provide the booklet ‘When someone dies’
• Establish any immediate info/evidence from the family that can be passed to the O/C Investigation
• Protect the family from media intrusion.

Question 8

Before meeting the family, which should occur as soon as possible, the FLO must:

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Answer 8

Familiarise themselves with
* the enquiry
* all information established concerning the family
* available information and intelligence which could impact on the liaison role

Establish what
* contact the family has had with Police since the incident/death
* information has been given to the family
* information concerning the incident is already in the public domain