Victim Support Homicide Service
- Telephone Number:0300 303 1984
- Email Address:-
- Website:http://www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/request-support
- Address:-
- Local Area:Basildon, Braintree, Brentwood, Castlepoint, Chelmsford, Colchester, Epping Forest, Harlow, Maldon, Rochford, Southend, Tendring, Thurrock, Uttlesford
Bereaved families affected by murder or manslaughter should be told about our Homicide Service by the police family liaison officers (FLOs), who contact us if you have experienced a murder or manslaughter. If people are happy to receive our help, the police will contact our service directly and we’ll arrange to see you as soon as it’s convenient.
Anyone bereaved in this way can also contact us directly if they want to. You can contact us by calling our National Homicide Service on 0300 303 1984 or requesting support online.
We hope that you will get in touch with us, but if you decide not to now, you can call us at any point in the future.
How our Homicide Service works
The service is offered to bereaved families by their police family liaison officer (known as the FLO) or the Foreign Office country caseworker. Once we have consent from the bereaved family, a homicide caseworker is assigned and a face-to-face meeting is offered.
A major part of our work is helping people navigate and know what to expect from the criminal justice system, and providing someone independent to talk to. The list of practical services we provide is endless. We can also help with any immediate, practical needs, such as assisting with the funeral, childcare and transportation. We also help victims access financial assistance such as state benefits and compensation claims, and will inform organisations that there has been a death.
Other help
We can also offer or commission specialist services such as trauma therapy and bereavement counselling for victims of all ages. We provide access to legal advice and restorative justice, and can also refer victims to our peer support group, charities and other organisations that can help.
All of our services are aimed at supporting bereaved families to help them cope with their loss. The Homicide Service commissions the following services:
- trauma counselling
- bereavement counselling
- restorative justice
- support and advocacy through the Domestic Homicide Review process, and other reviews such as Serious Case Reviews and inquests
- murder or manslaughter abroad
- child bereavement support
- welfare advice
- advocacy on your behalf for housing, finance (e.g. debt), employment, welfare benefits, family and school issues
- access to legal advice and support when needed
- comprehensive peer support network, where you can share knowledge, emotional assistance and practical help with others who have been bereaved through murder or manslaughter.
Murders or manslaughter abroad
The service is offered to bereaved families by their police family liaison officer (known as the FLO) or the Foreign Office country caseworker. Once we have consent from the bereaved family, a homicide caseworker is assigned and a face-to-face meeting is offered.
A major part of our work is helping people navigate and know what to expect from the criminal justice system, and providing someone independent to talk to. The list of practical services we provide is endless. We can also help with any immediate, practical needs, such as assisting with the funeral, childcare and transportation. We also help victims access financial assistance such as state benefits and compensation claims, and will inform organisations that there has been a death.
Contact us
Bereaved families affected by a murder or manslaughter should be told about our Homicide Service by the police family liaison officers, who contact us if you have experienced a murder or manslaughter. If people are happy to receive our help, the police will contact our service directly and we’ll arrange to see you as soon as it’s convenient.
Anyone bereaved in this way can also contact us directly if they want to. You can contact us by calling our National Homicide Service on 0300 303 1984 or requesting support online.
We hope that you will get in touch with us, but if you decide not to now, you can call us at any point in the future.
If English is not your first language and you would like some support, call us and let us know which language you speak and we will call you back with an interpreter as soon as possible.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing, we also welcome calls via Next Generation Text on 18001 08 08 16 89 111.