Families of road traffic victims need better support says Green AM

Families traumatised by loss, navigating their way through their grief and the criminal justice system need more support, says Caroline Russell AM.

Caroline has called for improvements to the MOPAC funded London Victim and Witness Service, so it supports families who are bereaved by road traffic collisions after she was told that hit and run is “not an area we normally support”.[1]

The Mayor agreed with Caroline that bereaved families should not have to find support themselves saying: “We should not be asking people who are experiencing loss and trauma to take the burden of care on themselves” and “no road collision victim should feel alone”.

Monday 21 November marks World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, and while in June Transport for London (TfL) reported that, the number of people killed on London's roads in 2021 fell by 22 per cent to the lowest level on record, 75 people being killed and 3,505 people being seriously injured on London’s roads is still far too many.[2]

Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell says:

“I’m glad the Mayor gets it and recognises that families bereaved through road traffic collisions are not always well enough supported”

“Bereaved families tell me they rely on charities like Road Peace and the Sarah Hope Line, but they only find them by chance. Met Family Liaison Officers are only there to help prior to sentencing, but the need for support for families of victims doesn’t stop at sentencing.  

“I was shocked to discover from Mopac’s Victim and Witness Service that “hit and run is not an area they normally support”

“I’m glad the Mayor is going to work on proactive referral after a collision, removing the burden of having to seek out help.

“Victims and bereaved families need more support and I hope we will see this rolled out in the new year.”

Mandy Garner, mother of Anisha who was killed in 2020 in a hit and run collision says:

“It is absolutely vital that victims and their families are given more support and information.

“I felt I had to chase every single thing and that Anisha was treated as if she was of no consequence to anyone. I was told by the coroner that 'I may know' that the driver had been sentenced as if I may not even have been bothered to find out.

“Every part of the justice system has been a struggle and it goes on for ever. I have written so many impact statements, reliving everything, but if it can make any difference to the process for other people it will have been worth it.

“I really want to thank Caroline for raising these issues. Road deaths such as Anisha's are criminal acts and there needs to be full support for those having to deal with the justice system, which, from my experience and talking to others, seems completely stacked against them.”

Sarah Hope, founder of TfL’s Sarah Hope Line says:

“I believe the trauma that is suffered by seriously injured and bereaved families from road crashes is misunderstood by the Ministry of Justice and we need to do so much more to support victims while they navigate the criminal justice system and civil litigation, which is complicated, exhausting and it often makes a devastating experience so much worse.

“Road crime has to be treated as real crime and tougher sentences for all criminal drivers must be handed down. 

“I can not understand why more criminal drivers who kill people are not banned from driving for life. I believe more bans and tougher sentences would act as a deterrent to dangerous drivers.”

The Mayor also said he and TfL are making the case to the Government for a long-term national support system so victims and their families across the country receive support.