(Marjo Searle-van Leeuwen, FNG-VOVK) Cross-Border cases, especially murders abroad, cause untold extra problems for the bereaved families. Not only are they affected by the deep trauma of the murder of a loved one, but they are extremely vulnerable and need practical as well as emotional support in order to cope. They face enormous difficulties in repatriating the body, obtaining information, translating documents and understanding the judicial processes in another country, another language, another culture. There is no clear and established way to provide support, it has not been incorporated into most existing Victim Support organisations. The UK Peer Support organisation "Murdered Abroad" (up to now known as SAMM-Abroad) has offered support and assistance, based on the experiences of their more than 200 members. In the Netherlands a group has been working in close relationship with SAMM-Abroad for the last 15 years, within the context of the FNG-VOVK formed by parents/relatives of murder victims. It is clear that there is at the moment a difference in levels of support, and that by taking better account of the needs of the bereaved, services could be made more effective. What those needs are for Cross-Border cases will be discussed using a survey of the experiences of more than 50 of the families bereaved by murder abroad: "Who cares for the Families'.

1. Murder, Manslaughter and Suspicious
Deaths Abroad
Eve Henderson
Murdered Abroad, Director/Co-Founder
Helpline: 0845 123 2384
www.Murdered-Abroad.org.uk

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Needs of the Family
• Families are bereaved and severely traumatised
• They have the same key needs across Europe:
– Information about the murder
– Confidence in an effective investigation and
efficient prosecution
– To be kept informed throughout this process
– To be able to ask questions about the murder
and investigation

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What We Want To Achieve
• Victim Support Europe to facilitate:
• Government departments working together across
Europe and to be victim focused
• Foreign Offices, Police, Coroners
– A consistent citizen focused service through national
policies
• Fairness
– Equality of support packages with victims of terrorism
& mass disaster

5. What is Murdered Abroad
• A UK national charity supporting families after
murder abroad
• Founded in 2001 (formerly SAMM Abroad), run
by volunteers
• Peer support to British citizens or residents
bereaved by homicide abroad
• Action group, working for change
• Advise and engage with statutory agencies
• Over 250 bereaved families in Murdered Abroad
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Achievements in the UK
• Retention of Coroners’ Inquests following repatriation of
the body
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UK
agencies: Foreign Office, UK Police, Coroners (since
2009)
• Victim Support’s Homicide Service (since 2010)
• Foreign & commonwealth Office: Murder & Manslaughter
Unit (since 2015)

7. The way forward
• Murder & Manslaughter Units in all Foreign
Affairs/Foreign Offices in every country across
Europe
• Understanding the judicial processes across
Europe, i.e. the role of the UK Coroner
• European Homicide Working Group set up for
police to discuss cross border homicides
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8. Thank you for listening
Eve Henderson
Murdered Abroad, Director/Co-Founder
0845 123 2384 eve@murdered-abroad.org
www.Murdered-Abroad.org.uk