Disaster Victim Identification Steve Tolmie Detective Chief Inspector Thames Valley Police

Objectives Disaster Victim Identification Process Role of Senior Identification Manager Family Liaison Victim Recovery Temporary Mortuary Role of the Coroner Methods of Primary Identification Welfare and Support

The Requirement to Identify the Deceased Statutory Requirement Judicial recommendations Duty to victims and their families Crime investigation Interpol Resolution

Lord Justice Clarke’s Report General Principles: Provision of honest and as far as possible accurate information at all times and at every stage Respect for the deceased and the bereaved A sympathetic and caring approach throughout The avoidance of mistaken identification

The Requirement to Identify the Deceased ► ‘ the care with which our dead are treated is a mark of how civilised a society we are. Much goes on for understandable reasons behind closed doors. For this reason there is special responsibility placed on those entrusted with this work and the authorities who supervise it to ensure that the bodies of the dead are treated with the utmost care and respect. That is what bereaved and loved ones are entitled to expect and what society at large demands’ ► Charles Haddon Cave QC – Counsel for Marchioness Action Group 2001

DVI Process The Bringing together of Ante Mortem and Post Mortem data To make a positive Identification

DVI Process Ante Mortem Data is collected By Police Officers in the countries that people are reported missing from. This is recorded on Interpol Yellow forms

DVI Process Post Mortem Data is collected By Pathology and DVI teams working at the mortuaries where the dead are taken. This is recorded on Interpol Pink forms

DVI Process Both Yellow Ante Mortem Data & Pink Post Mortem Data Are sent to the IMC for comparison

DVI Process The Challenge is to match all the Yellow AM’s to the Pink PM’s

Identification Commission SIMSIOHM Coroner DVI Team Casualty Bureau Family Liaison Mortuary Victim Recovery

DVI Process If yellow ante mortem data is not gathered or submitted to IMC no identification can be made If post mortem data can not be matched it means that the person has not been reported missing If ante mortem data can not be matched it means that the body is not there

Casualty Bureau High volume of telephone calls Use of Holmes 2/Casweb software Relevant questions set by SIM to assist identification of missing persons Provide list of missing persons Collate data to support identification of missing persons Liaison with DVI team Work with family Liaison

Sample Questions Do they use the bus/public coach regularly? Do you know if they made a journey today? Where would they have started their journey from today? Where do they usually travel to? What time would they normally have left work/education? How do they get to the bus coach stop? Do you know if they travel using a daily ticket/ season ticket /Oyster card Would they be travelling with anyone else? If so who? Have you tried to contact them? If Yes what response did you get? E.g. phone disconnected, engaged, ring no answer, voice mail, diverted call, record details of number and provider Would you have expected this person to have made contact with you by now? Have you contacted their place of work?Yes or No (if Yes what time)

Family Liaison Common Tasks To gather evidence To provide a documented two-way communication channel between family & police To mitigate negative effects of criminal justice processes To contribute to a co- ordinated response to the needs of victims To offer close liaison with relevant coroner/coroner’s officer

Primary role of a FLO? Counsellor Investigator

Partner Agencies Utilising the skills and resources of partner agencies is key to a co-ordinated response Preparation and planning are key to developing protocols and understanding

Locations where an FLO may be deployed Survivor Reception Centre Family and Friends Centre Hospitals Central Casualty Bureau Humanitarian Assistance Centre Major Incident Room Airports/Seaports F&CO/DCMS PNICC-Police National Intelligence Co-ordination Centre

Holding Area/Temporary Mortuary Decision of coroner in consultation with Pathologist, SIO & SIM Scale of incident City Mortuary – business as usual Security – Press, family To examine, identify and re-unite all body parts Establish identity of person

Temporary Mortuary Space required Access Power supply Water supply Drainage Communications Welfare of staff Viewing by family Stigma

Primary Identification Criteria 4 methods Any ideas?

Primary Identification Criteria 4 methods Fingerprints DNA Odontology Unique Medical Condition

Fingerprints

DNA

DNA Comparison Three types of DNA Sample Reference Sample, Known to be the DNA of the missing person (DNA database, Medical sample) Surrogate Sample, Believed to be DNA of person i.e. from hairbrush, toothbrush, clothing etc. Familial sample, a close relative who will have similar DNA, Child, Parent, Sibling

DNA Comparison Rarely is a Reference Sample available Surrogate Sample may not be the victims Familial sample is usually only compared with parents, children, siblings. Aim is to construct the deceased’s DNA profile using his/her relatives

DNA Problems What if you don’t have both parents? What if the person is adopted What if the person who thinks he is the father is not?

Odontology

Unique Medical Condition

Primary Identification Criteria 4 methods Fingerprints DNA Odontology Unique Medical Condition

Secondary Methods & Assistance Secondary Blood grouping Scars, marks, Tattoos, Amputations Deformities Personal effects Jewellery Distinctive clothing Medical records X-ray examinations Assistance Only Visual Photographs Body location Description Clothing

Incident Occurrence Casualty Bureau FLO Deployment Victim Recovery Post Mortem Examination Pathology Dental Fingerprints DNA Identifying marks Clothing / jewellery Photographs DVRI Documentation/ Ante-mortem harvest Examination and Documentation Samples Analysed Identification Commission Identification certified by Coroner Reconciliation/Repatriation

Welfare and Support What do families require? Information about all aspects of the process – if they want it Clear, consistent channel of communication Choices Openness, honesty, sensitivity Practical assistance Emotional first aid

The Golden Principles Don’t make promises that can’t be kept Don’t underestimate people’s desire for detail Treat people as you would wish to be treated

Faith, Religious and Cultural Considerations Likely to be a variety of nationalities, cultural groups and faiths Identification is paramount Must know the identity of a victim before any other issues can be considered LRF plans to provide necessary support Must consider the religious and cultural needs of the deceased and families

Staff Welfare Health and Safety Risk management and avoidance Mass disasters are demanding Adequate breaks & refreshments Proper and adequate briefings and debriefings Honest information Quiet space to prepare, unwind or think Provide support & information inc for families

Thank You Any Questions?

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