Losing my beloved brother Tony left a big hole in my heart. Tony was a husband, a father, an uncle and a friend to everyone. He was a pedestrian collecting Covid Samples from a care home and was killed by a drug addicted speeding driver. Leading up to and during the case, there was no victim support. Following the matter, it was very distressing not to get specialist support. Death comes to us all, but sudden, death by hit and run is extra traumatising. I had to source my own support and bore complete responsibility for sourcing help and initiating contact. The journey and allied experiences has left me severely traumatised, after such a catastrophic loss that left me feeling completely devastated.
This is why the news that Transport for London (TFL), in collaboration with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), police and charities Brake and RoadPeace, is to launch a new pilot victim support service to significantly improve support for victims of the most serious road traffic collisions in London is welcome.
The service will enhance the level of support available to families left bereaved and those catastrophically injured and make it easier to access the support they need following incidents that can often devastate lives. It will also help, and support people affected by the most serious collisions, and those experiencing a bereavement or catastrophic injury. Direct referral will be from the police into support services, which will mean that victims of the most serious traffic collisions will no longer be responsible for sourcing help and initiating contact themselves.