Serious Collision Investigation Unit supports victims and families of fatal collisions

As the lead officer for the Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU), Detective Inspector Mark Fraser explains the team’s important role in supporting victims and their families, and how they go about gathering evidence to enable an investigation to be brought before the court.

The detective describes the vital work they do as part of Brake Road Safety Week which started on Sunday 17 November. This year, the national campaign is victim focussed, with an emphasis on celebrating the work of the incredible people who support families after a road death or serious injury.

Attending a fatal collision has a lasting impact on all of us,” the SCIU officer explains, “we want to get things right for every family that’s left behind.
So, from the moment we’re deployed, we’ve got to get things right: we only have one chance to get the evidence we need to bring those responsible for the collision to justice.
I’m always reminded that this isn’t just a job, we’re supporting a victim or their family and it’s crucial that we act in a dignified way, even in those initial chaotic moments.
Everyone will look to our officers to guide the emergency services response, to do it calmly and professionally.
Sometimes we are faced with the most incredibly difficult scene, but our priority is to deal with the medical needs of all the injured parties, working closely with paramedics at the scene. Some victims will be traumatised and appear to wander, trying to work out what has happened to them, others will be frozen and shocked to their core. Either way, we’re there to look after them and make sure they don’t come to any further harm.
Sadly, if someone has died at the scene, it’s incredibly important that we treat them with the respect they deserve and that their family rightly expects and preserve the scene so we can gain vital evidence to launch an investigation. By piecing together the facts, taking measurements and photos of the scene, and drawing plans, we can build an accurate picture to establish what happened in the moments before impact and why the collision occurred; it’s time-consuming, detailed, painstaking work, but it’s the very basis of any prosecution and the facts need to be present and correct for all investigations.
We would be devastated if we left the scene without gaining a vital piece of evidence, so we can’t rush or make mistakes.
When we close the road to other drivers, we appreciate the impact that has on them and the wider community, but we’ve always appreciated their patience and thankful for their support – we feel that they understand what we need to do is more important than the diversion they unfortunately are caught up in.
Once the road is reopened and we head back to the office, that’s the beginning of what can be a very lengthy investigation, with intricacies that take time to complete. We may have to view hours of CCTV or take statements from multiple witnesses.
But my team are all qualified detectives who are dedicated to finding out what caused the collision and by using best practice and experience, they will present their findings to the court.
Each family will be supported throughout the process, from the tragic event right through to the conclusion of the court case. We’re there for them, to explain the processes involved, answer their questions and to offer practical help.
Although we can’t bring their loved one back, I’m proud of my team and what they achieve on behalf of any person who died in the collision.
We treat victims and families with compassion throughout because, if we were in their shoes, that’s how we would want to be supported and guided - with professionalism, courtesy and respect.

Help us reduce road collisions and casualties in Essex and make our roads even safer. Report instances of poor and dangerous driving through Safer Essex Roads Partnership's Extra Eyes initiative.

More than ever, irresponsible, dangerous and illegal road behaviour is being recorded by road users. Through Extra Eyes this footage can be sent to, and reviewed by, an investigator within Road Policing at Essex Police.

Find out how by visiting Safer Essex Roads Partnership website.

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