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What to do if…
a family member dies at work or in public and investigators want a statement from you

Short answer

If you’re overwhelmed, it’s okay to slow this down: ask what your role is (witness / next of kin contact / interviewed under caution), and ask whether your statement can be taken later in writing or at a scheduled time when you can think clearly and have support.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t guess, fill gaps, or repeat rumours to “be helpful” — stick to what you directly know.
  • Don’t sign anything you haven’t read carefully, or that you don’t fully agree is accurate.
  • Don’t let anyone rush you when you’re in shock (including well-meaning people).
  • Don’t hand over private items (phone, messages, documents) unless you clearly understand who is asking, why, and what happens next.
  • Don’t discuss details widely (family group chats, social media, colleagues) while facts are still being checked.

What to do now

  1. Get a brief safety pause first. If you’re at the scene or in a public place, move somewhere quieter (a side room, a friend’s car, a reception area) and get water. If you’re not fit to talk, say so plainly.
  2. Ask two grounding questions before you answer anything:
    • “Can you tell me your name, role, and which organisation you’re with?”
    • “Am I being asked as a witness, or am I being interviewed under caution?”
  3. If you are a witness and you’re not ready, ask to schedule it. Say: “I’m too distressed to give an accurate account right now. Can we arrange a time later, or can I provide a written statement?”
  4. Ask for a support person to be present. This can be a trusted friend/family member. If the police appoint a Family Liaison Officer (FLO), ask to route contact via them and to have them help coordinate updates.
  5. Keep your account factual and narrow. Use “I saw / I heard / I received a call from…” and clearly separate what you know from what you assume. If you don’t know, say “I don’t know.”
  6. Control the mechanics of any statement. Police statements can be taken in writing or recorded. Ask for breaks. Ask to read it (or have it read back) and correct anything wrong (times, locations, names) before you sign.
  7. If you are interviewed under caution, pause and get legal advice. Say: “I want legal advice.” In the UK, you can ask for a solicitor and you do not have to continue answering questions until you’ve had that advice.
  8. If the death was at work, expect joint investigating. Often the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) (or another enforcing authority) coordinate from the start under the Work-related Deaths Protocol. Ask who your main contact is and how you’ll be kept updated (often via the FLO).
  9. If a coroner is involved, you may be asked for a family statement later. Coroner’s officers often gather information from family as part of the file. If you have concerns or key facts, you can ask how to provide them in writing.
  10. Write down your own record immediately after. In your own private notes: who you spoke to, time/date, what you were asked for, what you provided, and any reference numbers given. This protects you if you later can’t remember.

What can wait

  • You do not need to produce a perfect timeline right now.
  • You do not need to answer “why it happened” — investigators decide that.
  • You do not need to negotiate with an employer, media, or extended family today.
  • You do not need to decide about funerals, belongings, or work arrangements before you’ve had sleep and support.

Important reassurance

Shock can make memory patchy, speech disorganised, and emotions swing between numbness and overwhelm. Needing time before a statement is common — and it can make your account more reliable, not less.

Scope note

This is first steps only — just enough to protect you from being rushed into an inaccurate statement while you’re grieving. Later stages (post-mortem, coroner process, workplace investigation, inquest) can be handled one piece at a time.

Important note

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Processes vary by case. If you’re unsure of your status, feel pressured, are interviewed under caution, or think you might be personally blamed, get independent legal advice before continuing.

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