New guidance launched for families bereaved abroad – but legislative gaps remain 

Every year, around 80 British nationals are murdered abroad. In the immediate aftermath, their families must navigate unfamiliar legal systems, language barriers, and complex logistics – such as repatriating a body – often with limited updates on police investigations. 

The Ministry of Justice’s new formal guidance is designed to consolidate information on the services available to these victims. It aims to offer reassurance by clearly setting out: 

• What families can expect immediately after a death, including support from agencies in England and Wales. 

• The ongoing support available, including emotional, legal, and financial assistance and referrals to specialist services. 

• The specific roles of different agencies, ensuring families understand who is responsible for what. 

• Clear information on how to access services and what to expect at each stage of the process. 

In a Written Statement, Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones MP praised the Victims’ Commissioner’s office and the charity Murdered Abroad for their contribution to the new guide. 

She thanked them for “their invaluable support in making this guidance as helpful as possible for victims and for their continued commitment to improving services for bereaved families.” 

The Minister also paid tribute to Baroness Newlove, whose advocacy for families bereaved by murder and manslaughter abroad was described as “instrumental in shaping this guidance.” 

While the guidance has been welcomed as a resource to improve awareness, it is not statutory, meaning there is no legal duty on agencies to follow it. 

Under current laws, bereaved families of those murdered abroad are not formally recognised as victims of crime in England and Wales. Consequently, the protections and entitlements guaranteed by the Victims’ Code do not apply to them. 

Any support these families currently receive remains discretionary, meaning access to help can depend on inconsistent decisions made by individual services and government bodies. 

The Commissioner continues to push for these families to be recognised under the Victims’ Code to ensure they are not left behind. 

She is calling for amendments to the Victims and Courts Bill which would bring victims of murder abroad into the scope of the Code, ensuring they have access to support services in England and Wales. 

The amendment, championed by the Commissioner, has been tabled by Baroness Brinton and will be debated when the Victims and Courts Bill reaches its Committee Stage in the House of Lords, expected later in January. 

The new guidance is available online: Murder and manslaughter abroad: Family information guide for England and Wales – GOV.UK