New role to support victims and families of people killed and injured on North Wales’ roads
A new role has been created to help road victims and families of people killed and seriously injured on roads in North Wales. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? John Hughes-Jones from North Wales, will take up the role of Independent Road Victim Advocate (IRVA), will be employed by road safety charity Brake. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? His role is funded by the PCC’s office, which provides additional funding for a telephone service run by Brake that is offered to all road victims in England and Wales. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Brake’s National Road Victim Service is the only specialist, clinically and trauma-informed, end-to-end, in-person caseworker service supporting road victims from every police force in the UK. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Its objective is to care for road victims when the worst happens, helping them cope and recover, working towards wellbeing. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Road victims face many complex practical procedures after a crash, such as identifying a loved one’s body, attending a criminal or inquest hearing, getting a loved one’s property and clothing returned, understanding how a collision happened, and providing a Victim Impact Statement in court. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Brake’s National Road Victim Service provides tailored to meet their individual needs and puts road victims front and centre. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? The IRVA will provide face-to-face support via an improved referral pathway from North Wales Police Family Liaison Officers, who have first contact with road victims. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? The IRVA can also assist with: ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
- Emotional support
- Practical support
- Understanding procedures, such as criminal prosecutions or court cases
- Seeking and using lawyers
- Family support, for example with children or the elderly
- Injury rehabilitation.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, commented: “I am proud that we have been able to fund an Independent Road Victim Advocate for North Wales. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
“I am confident that John will be able to offer much-needed support and guidance to bereaved families and seriously injured people at the most vulnerable and distressing moments of their lives. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? “As PCC I have included improving road safety as a key part of my plan for policing and crime in North Wales – the first Commissioner to do so in the region. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? “Our ultimate aim is to prevent tragedies before they happen, through education, safety measures, and policing, but this new role stands as a marker of how much importance we place on supporting victims, and in enabling them to come to terms with what has happened to them.” ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Jami Blythe, head of development at Brake, the road safety charity, said: “We are proud to be working with North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner’s office to ensure more road victims are provided with the support they need following a sudden loss in a road crash. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? “It is imperative that anyone bereaved as a result of a road collision can access in-person, trauma-informed support delivered by a specialist caseworker here at Brake’s National Road Victim Service. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? “We are pleased that Mr Dunbobbin has recognised this need for his communities.” ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Inspector Iwan Roberts from North Wales Police Roads Crime Unit said: “Every death or serious injury on our roads has a significant and long-term impact on the local community, so it is vital that those directly affected receive long-term, specialist support. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? “Sadly, between January and October this year, there have been 23 fatalities and 236 serious injury casualties on the roads of North Wales. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? “Whilst there is a huge amount of work underway to significantly reduce these statistics, it remains that many families and individuals are left with a devastating loss or life-changing injury following a road traffic collision. ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
“Our dedicated Family Liaison Officers already provide great support to families and loved ones, and I am delighted they will be able to work alongside Brake’s IRVA to enhance the support that is available to help them.” ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Spotted something? Got a story?
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