Abstract â–¡ 139

The Queensland Police Service (Australia) is leading the way in providing a professional and caring service to bereaved parents, which ensures correct reporting of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

The Sudden Death Liaison Officer (SDLO) Program was implemented in one small area of Queensland, Australia, in 1996. Since that time, the program has been adopted on a National and International level, including New Zealand and Great Brittain. The authors of this program have been tasked by the Global Strategy Committee with developing an international best practice protocol for Police investigating the sudden deaths of children.

Police Officers are tasked with investigating the deaths of children. Traditionally, no thought was given as to who should attend these high grief situations, and too often, inexperienced Police were assigned these tasks. The negative impact that this can have on a family is well documented.

The SDLO program provides a bereaved family with a professional and caring Police Officer, who builds rapport with the family, provides information, and remains a central focal point for the Family until the they no longer require support. The positive impact that this has on families cannot be overstated.

The SDLO program has introduced the highest standard of professionalism and is recognised internationally as being best practice for investigating Police.

The reasons for the program's success are many. Firstly, Families are now receiving the professional service that they deserve, and secondly, the program ensures a more detailed reporting system, due to experienced Police reporting deaths accurately. This results in a reduction in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome statistically.

In addition, Police officers can no longer be over-exposed to child deaths, due to coping mechanisms built into the program. This has reduced the amount of Police retiring from the Service as being medically unfit. The Sudden Death Liaison Officer Program has generated enormous interest throughout the world, and has been described as the finest Policing initiative ever seen.