Dealing with bereavement
We are truly sorry that you find yourself in these tragic circumstances and we offer our condolences. At this very difficult time we want to reassure you that we will do all we can to treat you, your loved one and family with dignity and
respect, give you information as soon as it’s available and return belongings when possible.
In some cases we will conduct a thorough investigation into what happened, in order to establish the facts. Sometimes we’ll need to pass the investigation on to other agencies.
We will need to find out about your loved one as part of our inquiry. We will explain that process to you.
This information will guide you through some of the practical arrangements and legal processes which must be followed.
In England, all unexpected fatalities must be reported to His Majesty’s Coroner (HMC) for the area where it occurred. An inquest will always be held except in cases of natural causes.
If further investigation is required, an investigating officer will be appointed. They’re sometimes known as Officer in Case (OIC). This may not be the person you saw initially. We’ll tell you if there is any change.
In some cases a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) may be appointed. Their role includes being a single point of contact for you, helping gather information for the investigation and providing support and information. If a FLO is appointed, they will explain more fully.
His Majesty’s Coroner has to be notified of all unusual unnatural unexpected or suspicious deaths. HMCs have a case officer who acts on their behalf, collecting information for the investigation and inquest. They work alongside the police investigation team.
If you want to see your loved one, we’ll try to help.
Sometimes you won’t be able to, and sometimes we’ll need you to identify them formally. You may want to take someone with you, or send a close friend or relative, if the coroner agrees. You may be able to leave a soft toy, letter, item of clothing or other personal items with your loved one at this early stage. You can discuss this with your funeral directors and coroner’s officer.
Following certain types of incidents, injuries can be very severe. These images are likely to remain with you and the police should discuss with you whether or not to attend.
If you would like to visit the place where it happened, we will do all we can to help. This can take a few days to arrange as it may need to be planned in advance. It’s best to discuss it with the person dealing with you.
In some cases we may need to attend your loved one’s address to find items to help us confirm their identity. Please avoid touching anything they may have handled until we tell you that it’s fine for you to do so.
While we will do our best to return an item to you, sometimes things are unavoidably damaged during the forensic process, and we cannot give them back. Equally, an item may not be in the same condition as you last saw it.
Depending on circumstances there may be no need for forensic examination. We’ll let you know whether there will be one or not.
Sometimes we need to take a statement from you. This can be done by a police officer, member of police staff, coroner’s officer or Family Liaison Officer. It helps us get a picture of your loved one and includes information such as name, age, date of birth, family make up, childhood, schooling, medical history, occupation, when you last saw them.
The coroner may request a medical examination, called a post mortem, in order to establish the formal cause of death. It is carried out by a pathologist or other medically qualified person. The examination is usually physical. It can also be via use of a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
If you have any religious or cultural concerns or objections, please speak to the coroner’s officer. We will help you to obtain the relevant contact details.
Samples are commonly taken at post mortem to check for medication drugs and alcohol. This is not a reflection on your loved one, it is to establish whether there could have been any other contributory factors.
You can request a copy of the post mortem report. Please be aware that they are written in very graphic, clinical language and can be distressing to read. The coroner establishes the cause of death. This will be a brief entry on the interim and final death certificates.
These can include:
- Family, friends, acquaintances, neighbours
- Employers
- GP and any other doctors
- Utility companies
- Banks/credit/mortgage companies
- Government agencies e.g. DVLA/DWP
- Solicitors
- Insurance companies
The Government Tell Us Once Service allows you to report it to many organisations at the same time. The coroners officer will send the link to you so you can complete this process.
Your GP, funeral director and local council may also be able to advise you.
Sometimes a tragedy attracts interest from the press and media. We don’t give out your loved one’s name or any details other than time of occurrence, gender, age and area where they lived.
Sometimes reporters find out the person’s address and go there. You don’t have to speak to them unless you want to. They may try to find your loved one on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and can use this in their reporting.
The police classify fatalities as
- Expected
- Unexpected - under investigation
- Unexpected - non suspicious
- Unexpected – suspicious
These classifications can change as the investigation progresses.
The inquest is held at a Coroner’s Court. It is held to establish who died, where, how and when.
It may be opened then adjourned to allow information to be gathered and an investigation to take place. The full inquest may be months or even years afterwards. In some circumstances there can be a jury.
After the inquest has been adjourned, the coroner will issue an interim death certificate. This allows you to make arrangements for the funeral. You will need to let the coroner know what type of funeral this will be, for example burial
or cremation. You can also use this certificate to apply for probate.
We can arrange for you to visit a court room beforehand. You can ask for copies of any statements that you made to the police so you can refer to them.
The Coroner’s Court Support Service offers emotional support and practical help whether you choose to attend court or not.
Witnesses may be called to give evidence.
These can include:
- Police officers
- Pathologist
- Doctors
- Eyewitnesses
- Family members
The coroner and any legal representatives can ask questions of witnesses. Any interested person, such as parent, spouse, partner or child of the person can ask questions of a witness. The jury can also ask questions.
The coroner may ask for details of injuries to be read out in court. If you don’t want to hear these, tell the coroner’s officer. The inquest will normally be stopped to allow you to leave and they will call you back once this is done.
At the end of the inquest the coroner or jury will reach a conclusion.
This can be one of several including:
- Open - where it was not possible to reach a decision as to how the death happened
- Accidental
- Suicide
- Narrative – where the coroner or jury writes a short factual statement outlining the circumstances
This conclusion is sent to the registry office and a death certificate will be issued.
If your loved one left any notes or messages addressed to you, you can ask for them along with any personal belongings kept for the inquest.
Journalists can be present at an inquest. If you do not want to speak to them, just tell them. You could prepare a statement to give them. This allows you some control over what is reported. There are media guidelines for reporting
on inquests provided the The Samaritans.
Traumatic untimely death is a particularly shocking bereavement where feelings of grief can be magnified and made worse by essential investigations. There is a Public Health England booklet. Although it was written for help after suicides, it contains helpful practical and emotional support for all sudden deaths.
As well as the many organisations listed at the end of this book, others who can provide support are:
- General practitioner
- Funeral director
- Religious communities
- Samaritans
- Essex Wellbeing
Essex Wellbeing service is a local bereavement organisation, they can provide you with immediate access to appropriate support. They can sign post you to financial aid and provide practical help. You can self-refer yourself you to
EssexWellbeing by following the link.
Hub of Hope
Hub of Hope is the UK's leading mental health support database. It is free and provides links to many sources of help.
Samaritans
Organisations have varying and changeable opening hours. For national cover 24 hours a day 7 days a week please contact the Samaritans by phoning 116123 or visiting their website.
At a Loss
At a Loss is a signposting website for anyone bereaved and those supporting them.
gov.uk
Thegov.uk website offers advice and information on what to do when someone dies.
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends is an organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.
0345 123 2304
The Child Death Helpline
The Child Death Helpline is staffed by volunteers who are bereaved parents. They are trained, supervised and supported by professional teams within Great Ormond Street Hospital.
0800 282 986
Much loved
Much Loved helps people establish an online memorial to your loved one. It also has its own community that shares ideas on how to deal with bereavement.
Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse Bereavement Care promotes the wellbeing of bereaved people and helps them to understand their grief and cope with their loss. They provide counselling, support, information and advice.
0808 808 1677
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK support children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement, and anyone impacted by the death of a child of any age.
0800 028 8840
If You Care Share Foundation
If You Care Share Foundation provides help through the difficult times. They provide emotional and practical support for prevention, intervention and support after suicide.
0191 387 5661
Hope Again
Hope Again is designed for young people by young people. It is part of Cruse Bereavement Care and supports young people after the death of someone close to them.
0808 808 1677
The Support After Suicide Partnership
The Support After Suicide Partnership brings together national and local organisations that are involved in delivering suicide bereavement support across the UK
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide offers support and advice to those bereaved by suicide.
0300 111 5065
Winston's Wish
Winston’s Wish support children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling.
08088 020 021
Amparoo
Amparoo provides emotional and practical support for anybody who has felt the impact of suicide.
Organisations have varying and changeable opening hours, for national cover 24 hours a day 7 days a week please contact the Samaritans by phoning 116 123 or visiting Samaritans.org.
ataLoss.org
The ataLoss.org is a signposting website for anyone bereaved and those supporting them.
hubofhope.co.uk
The Hub of Hope is the UK’s leading mental health support database. It is free and provides links to local, peer, community, charity, private and NHS support and services that may be useful or of help to you or someone you care at this distressing time.
gov.uk
Offers advice and information on what to do when someone dies.
gov.uk/when-someone-dies
childbereavementuk.org
Child Bereavement UK support children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement, and anyone impacted by the death of a child of any age.
0800 028 8840
childdeathhelpline.org.uk
The Child Death Helpline is staffed by volunteers who are bereaved parents. They are trained, supervised and supported by professional teams within Great Ormond Street Hospital.
0800 282 986
cruse.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care promotes the wellbeing of bereaved people and helps them to understand their grief and cope with their loss.
They provide counselling, support, information and advice.
0808 808 1677
tcf.org.uk
The Compassionate Friends is an organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.
0345 123 2304
hopeagain.org.uk
Hope Again is designed for young people by young people. It is part of Cruse Bereavement Care and supports young people after the death of someone close to them.
0808 808 1677
muchloved.com
Much Loved helps people establish an online memorial to your loved one. It also has its own community that shares ideas on how to deal with bereavement.
samaritans.org
Samaritans deliver a 24-hour emotional support service to callers.
116 123
supportaftersuicide.org.uk
The Support After Suicide Partnership brings together national and local organisations that are involved in delivering suicide bereavement support across the UK
uksobs.org
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide is offers support and advice to those bereaved by suicide.
0300 111 5065
ifucareshare.co.uk
If You Care Share Foundation provides help through the difficult times. They provide emotional and practical support for prevention, intervention and support after suicide.
0191 387 5661
winstonswish.org.uk
Winston’s Wish support children and young people after the death of a parent or sibling.
08088 020 021