Questions and answers

In short: Delivering death notifications is part of the official duties the police force is required to perform under public law. Since the police enjoy privileged access to the relevant information, perform the respective investigations, and are responsible for preventing and defending against threats to public safety as well as protecting victims, they are also solely responsible for this task which cannot be delegated. Delivering death notifications is part police work, part counselling work . It is important, however, to keep the two clearly apart from each other.

The detailed answer goes something like this: Two officers in uniform ring the door bell - a cliché fuelled by film and TV representations that we readily associate with the delivery of death notifications. This moment, however, captures only the very first contact between the police officers and the relatives. The police are important partners for grieving relatives especially in death investigations where the corpse has been confiscated. The police work at the interface between doctors, the prosecution, the undertaker, witnesses, etc., which puts them in a position to give relatives access to the dead as well as to information that would otherwise remain tightly under wraps.

First, however, it must be determined in which situations the delivery of a death notification falls within the purview of the police. This is not always the case, depending on the manner of death. In Germany, unnatural or suspicious deaths occurring in connection with accidents, suicides or homicides are the responsibility of the police to communicate to the victim’s family. This is directly linked to the police’s other responsibilities, such as investigating crime and petty offences, defending the population against threats to public safety, preventing crime and protecting victims. In situations where the police are required to deliver news, the officers involved have access to important information regarding the facts. Typically, they will be the officers who were called to the scene or have been informed of all relevant details by their colleagues before approaching the relatives.

Where did the accident take place? Was there a suicide letter? Were there any first responders or witnesses? Who is the deceased person and when can their relatives see them?

In situations such as these, the police officers must decide which information to pass on to the relatives and which information to withhold (for the moment) to safeguard the ongoing investigation. The latter is particularly important if the death results in an investigation of wrongful death.

People react differently to learning of a loved one's sudden and unnatural death. It is the duty of the police to assess the danger the relative poses to him/herself or to others and to take suitable preventative measures. An upset wife who has just learned of her husband’s suicide may cause a traffic accident en route to the scene. This can be prevented by the police, who are authorised to detain a person, effectively curtailing their right to freedom, if necessary. Often, police officers ask for the support of emergency counsellors or crisis intervention teams when delivering news of the death of a family member. Emergency counsellors and crisis intervention teams provide psychosocial care to individuals in extreme situations. They stay with the relatives even after the news has been delivered, ensuring that the victims are not left to face the aftermath alone.

In short: Yes in both cases.

In detail: Delivering bad news, whether it’s a medical diagnosis or news of the death of a loved one, represent an extreme situation. For the addressee, the news can mean a total collapse of reality that fundamentally changes life as they had known it within the blink of an eye. But for the messengers, too, this situation can be extremely stressful. Various studies and publications (Baile et al. 2000, Douglas et al 2013, Neff et al 2012, Fresen 2016, Kraemer 2016, Nordström et al 2011, Lasogga 2011, Trappe 2001) have highlighted the need to provide training and preparation to individuals tasked with delivering difficult news. They also draw attention to the negative effects associated with badly delivered news, which can entail far-reaching emotional, health and social consequences for those affected. A recurring observation in these publications which has also been confirmed by the “Narratives of Terror and Disappearance” project has to do with the relatives’ hunger for information. Often, many important questions only arise after the bad news has been received. To realise the meaning of a sentence such as “Your husband is dead”, relatives depend on certainty and reliable information, both of which can prevent the torment of speculation (Trappe). Where uncertainty prevails, it is the imagination that inevitably steps in to fill the gaps.

In the case of a sudden and unnatural death, the imagination is likely to conjure up all sorts of horrors. To prevent this from happening, police officers can provide relatives with access to important information, processes and to other involved parties. For instance, if the police officers know of the almost sacral importance that the bereaved attach to the place of death and the objects found among the deceased person's possessions, this can help guide their actions. It becomes clear why the clothes the deceased wore at the time of his/her death are so important and why they should be treated with respect. This can help the officers in charge act as required and to experience feelings of satisfaction and confidence associated with a job done well (self-efficacy). The content of the news does not change with the way it is delivered. But delivering bad news and interacting in a considerate, open and respectful manner can prevent unnecessary additional suffering and facilitate the natural grieving process.

Most of us are used to the frustration resulting from insufficient information and the opacity of bureaucratic and legal processes that one is inevitably bound to experience when consulting with the authorities. This can become unbearable in extraordinary circumstances such as the sudden and unnatural death of a loved one. Delivering death notifications should therefore be considered to be part and parcel of the police’s role in prevention. When delivering bad news, the police can make a conscious effort to ward off the negative consequences bound to ensue due to the relatives’ helplessness in the face of bureaucratic and legal processes.