Separate SIO and Family Liaison Officer roles
Daniel Morgan Panel · The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel · Issued 15 June 2021 · Addressed to: Metropolitan Police Service
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation, Volume 1
The Metropolitan Police should ensure that the role of the Family Liaison Officer is never carried out by the Senior Investigating Officer of an investigation. There is an inherent conflict between these two roles.
Daniel Morgan Panel, The Report of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel · 15 Jun 2021 Source PDF →
Response — verbatim from government
●Metropolitan Police Service
The new National Major Crime Investigation Manual (MCIM) published in November 2021 covers all aspects of major crime investigation and sets the standard for all forces alongside the relevant Authorised Professional Practice (APP) produced by the College of Policing. The MCIM now clearly sets out guidance that the role of Senior Investigating Officer and Family Liaison Officer are distinct with their own individual strategies. Although recent cases, such as that of Stephen Port, recently demonstrated limitations in training for MPS FLOs. We expect the MPS to ensure that all future FLO candidates, and those currently in the role, are appropriately screened as HMICFRS recently recommended.
Metropolitan Police Service · 22 Jun 2023 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 1 Nov 2021 · Metropolitan Police Service / College of Policing The MCIM (November 2021) clearly sets out that SIO and FLO roles are distinct with separate strategies. However, the Stephen Port case subsequently demonstrated limitations in MPS FLO training, and HMICFRS recommended improved screening of FLO candidates. View source → Confirmed Completed
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
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Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
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