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News Release 1st September 2006CARE OF POLICE SURVIVORSFollowing Michael Fabricant's address on Sunday 23rd July at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas near Lichfield to Chief Constables throughout the UK at the annual service of remembrance for police offices killed in the line of duty, Home Office Minister Tony McNulty has written to Mr Fabricant to confirm that there is no national guidance on how police forces treat bereaved relatives. In his speech, Michael Fabricant said that he is aware that standards of care vary from police force to police force and that this "is plainly wrong". In his letter, the Minister says: "I would first like to pay tribute to all those police officers who have lost their lives protecting the public and serving our communities. Like you I believe it is important that a high standard of care is given to the families of these officers when they face such a difficult time. "I understand from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that there is no national guidance on this issue.............. You say that some police forces appear to be more adept than others in helping bereaved families when an officer loses his life and I am therefore copying your letter and my reply to Christine Barton ACPO personnel management portfolio lead." In response, Michael Fabricant now says: "In recognising that standards of care do vary between different police forces, I hope that ACPO will issue national standards so that relatives can be supported at this difficult and vulnerable time. Over the last year, 12 policemen and 4 policewomen lost their lives in the course of their duty and 22 children have been bereaved. We owe them a huge debt and their children, partners, and relatives deserve the highest standard of after-care. When Parliament returns, I shall be asking what practical steps have been taken by ACPO to standardise care throughout the United Kingdom. Relatives of fallen police officers have told me good stories as well as bad about how different police forces have treated them after a police officer has lost his or her life." For further information, see News release of 23rd July 2006, and www.ukcops.org
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