The Award for Excellent Longstanding Service and Outstanding Officer Achievement Award received peer-nominations from police colleagues. Nominations for the Family Award came from families who had been supported by an FLO.
The awards were presented at a digital ceremony on Wednesday 17 November 2021.
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Outstanding Officer Achievement Award
Winner: PC Felicity Davis, West Yorkshire Police
PC Davis was commended by the judges for:
- Her exemplary behaviour when handling a very challenging case
- Developing a good rapport and maintaining strict neutrality with a divided family who didn't trust the police
- Carefully balancing conflicting and complex aspects of the deployment.
Highly commended:
- PC Andrew Pickering, Durham Police
- PC Nathalie Horner, Durham Police
- PC Susan Nisbet, Police Scotland
- PC Scott Gee, West Mercia Police
The service PC Davis has given these families, often without thanks, has been exemplary and a superb reflection on FLO principles.
PC Felicity Davis was nominated for this award by police colleagues
PC Felicity Davis describes what winning the 2021 Outstanding Officer Achievement Award means to her.
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Award for Excellent Longstanding Service
Winner: PC George Trayner, Police Scotland
PC Trayner was commended by the judges for:
- The commitment and dedication he has given to the role of family liaison officer (FLO) over a 20 year period
- Acting as an ambassador to improve awareness and effectiveness of the FLO role and encourage new candidates to take part in training, mentoring and coaching
- His expertise and advice in the field of 'body repatriation'
- Working with Brake to translate one of its acclaimed bereavement packs into Polish.
Highly commended:
- PC Sue Scott, Humberside Police
PC Trayner has specialised in family liaison for more than 20 years and overcome many hurdles to make it a success. His drive and enthusiasm for the topic cannot be overstated, and he continues to enhance the role and promote Police Scotland in a positive manner.
PC George Trayner was nominated for this award by police colleagues
PC George Trayner describes what winning the 2021 Award for Excellent Longstanding Service means to him.
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Family Award
Winner: PS Darren Westall, South Wales Police
PS Westall was commended by the judges for:
- His painstaking efforts to ensure the family were given the information they needed
- Providing an invaluable source of comfort to the family through the inquest and during court proceedings
- Arranging face-to-face meetings to deliver news, discuss significant developments, and answer the families' questions.
The loss of a loved one is the most horrific experience. Having a third party who you can contact at any time to talk to, cry to and who can appreciate the pain you are feeling and the gravity of your loss is no mean feat. These officers need to be recognised for the work they do for grieving families.
PS Darren Westall was nominated for this award by a bereaved family he supported
PS Darren Westall describes what winning the Family Award in 2021 means to him.
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Awards sponsors
Birchall Blackburn Law
“We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Brake Family Liaison Officer Awards again. It is an important event that honours and acknowledges the amazing work of a remarkable group of police officers. It is work that is often unsung and is done behind the scenes with quiet dignity. Their support for families going through the toughest of times is vital. Well done to the nominees and the winners. You are all extraordinary.”
Quentin Underhill, partner and head of serious and catastrophic injury, Birchall Blackburn Law
Hodge Jones & Allen
“Our personal injury team at Hodge Jones & Allen are delighted to sponsor and support the nominees for the Brake Family Liaison Awards. Sadly, we do see the impact and devastation that road traffic deaths bring to individuals and their families and having the support of the FLOs is vital. Our congratulations to all those nominated for providing outstanding support to road crash victims.”
Leticia Williams, partner and head of personal injury, Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors
Horwich Cohen Coghlan Solicitors
"We are very proud to sponsor these awards which pay tribute to the outstanding work undertaken by family liaison officers across the country. The support they provide to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury is essential. Every single one of the nominated FLOs has excelled in their duties and we congratulate all of the entrants and nominees for their vital work this year."
Martin James, chief operating officer, Horwich Coghlan (HCC) Solicitors
Slater and Gordon
“We are delighted to continue our long-standing support of the police family liaison service by once again co-sponsoring this event. We see all too often the devastation to families torn apart by road traffic crashes and the importance of the tireless work of FLOs up and down the country cannot be underestimated. Congratulations to all nominees.”
Nick Godwin, principal lawyer, serious injury, Slater and Gordon
Thank you
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