The Government is committed to ensuring families bereaved through homicide receive the specialist support they need to help them cope and, as far as possible, recover from the impact of these devastating crimes. This is why the Government funds the Homicide Service, providing £22 million to deliver the 2023/2027 contract. The Homicide Service supports families in England and Wales, who are bereaved through homicide both at home and abroad. The Service provides families with a caseworker to support their needs. This includes emotional, peer and advocacy support, as well as practical support such as advice on managing media attention and social media. Practical support may also include the provision of basic safety devices such as video doorbells. Where families have mental health needs, the Service facilitates access to NHS or other appropriate organisations for support, such as counselling and therapy.
On 29 March, we introduced our landmark Victims and Prisoners Bill to Parliament, to improve victims’ experiences of the criminal justice system. Families bereaved by crime are entitled to receive services under the Victims’ Code, which includes requiring that criminal justice agencies respect their privacy. We have also clarified the Bill’s definition of a victim to include families bereaved by crime, to ensure they benefit from the Bill’s measures
If members of the public have concerns about media reporting, IPSO, the independent press standards regulator, has a 24/7 helpline that offers support and advice. People concerned about breaches of their privacy, inaccurate reporting or harassment can bring a complaint against media via IPSO.
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