New role to support families of road incident victims in Sussex
The advocate will be able to offer practical and emotional help
Families who have lost loved ones in fatal road crashes in Sussex will be able to access support and guidance from a newly-created expert.
Nearly £60,000 is being spent on the creation of an Independent Road Victim Advocate (IRVA), who will be able to provide practical and emotional help to the relatives of those bereaved or those who have had a serious injury.
The IRVA will be able to help with day-to-day tasks such as managing rent, pensions and claiming entitlements for those who face being overwhelmed in the aftermath of incidents.
They can also work with lawyers to help victims understand procedures such as court cases.
There were 45 fatal crashes on Sussex's roads in 2023, while 23 people have already lost their lives in road traffic collisions so far in 2024.
The funding for the role has been secured from the Ministry of Justice by Sussex's Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, who said:
"The IRVA caseworker is the first of its kind in Sussex and I am delighted to be working with leading charity Brake as we support those who need it most.
"Most collisions on our roads are preventable and every fatality is one too many. Alongside the additional support that will be provided to families through the role of the IRVA, I also intend to set up a dedicated ‘Fatal Five Unit’ to move forward the Vision Zero approach to road safety and cut fatal and serious collisions by half by 2035.
"Safety on our roads is a top priority in my 2024-2028 Police & Crime Plan and, with support from Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner, who is also the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Roads Policing, I know we can make great improvements in further developing road safety initiatives and reduce collisions and casualties on our county’s roads."
Most of the families of those killed will receive support from a Sussex Police Family Liaison Officer (FLO).
The FLO forms part of an investigation team and will work with the family by providing updates on the investigation’s process; sharing information and evidence; guiding the family through the criminal and inquest processes as well as obtaining witness and victim statements.
Ross Moorlock, CEO at Brake, the road safety charity, said:
"We are proud to be working with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Sussex, Katy Bourne, and with Jo Shiner, Chief Constable for Sussex Police.
"Their joint support for the plight of road victims is very evident and we are thankful that they have chosen the National Road Victim Service to provide support for families in Sussex, through a local Independent Road Victim Advocate.
"At Brake, we know that the right support at the right time can change the course of someone’s life. Being able to access specialist, trauma-informed support delivered by Brake’s National Road Victim Service makes such a difference.
"We look forward to working in partnership with Sussex Police to support families in need."