A Partnership Perspective

This month, I am handing over my CEO blog to a very important partner. The words that follow come directly from Chief Inspector Steve O’Keefe, the Head of Roads Policing for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire. I am hugely grateful that he has taken the time (without prompting – and without any unwarranted demands with menaces! ) to share his perspective of working alongside the Road Victims Trust. His reflections highlight both the immense challenges of responding to fatal and life-changing road collisions, and the critical importance of partnership in ensuring that those affected receive the very best support.

At RVT, we are privileged to work so closely with the police across our three counties. This relationship is built on trust, professionalism, and compassion. It is only through this partnership that we can reach those who most need our service, offering specialist counselling and support at the darkest of times. I want to extend my personal thanks for these words, and for the ongoing commitment of every officer who works so tirelessly to protect, investigate, and support.

And just to add — after reading this piece, I’m fairly sure my policing colleague has uncovered a hidden talent for blogging that could keep him busy when the day job is done.

My original plan for October was to focus on the theme of “Why Funding Matters”. Given the opportunity to feature this valued partnership perspective, I will now share that piece in November instead.

I leave the rest of this blog in the words of my policing colleague – a perspective that speaks volumes:

Chief Inspector Steve O’Keeffe
I’ve always been told it’s rude to turn up unannounced… and that exactly what I am doing here, gate crashing a colleague’s/friend’s digital blog – but for all the right reasons.

I am the head of roads policing for Bedfordshire ,  Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire. It my team of “traffic” officers that patrol the roads and responds to serious injury and fatal collisions. Yes- you may have seen some of this work on TV, what you won’t have seen is the compassionate work of my Family Liaison Officers (FLO)  supporting affected families  through court processes or my team of detectives working through very complex investigations to get the right court result – these processes can sometimes take years to work through the CPS and judicial system.

I’ve been following Paul’s last couple of Road Victim Trust CEO blogs and reflected that it was missing a vital ingredient – key partnership endorsement and recognition. Paul discusses the “hidden work” surrounding post collision care – dare I suggest, that as a society it’s an uncomfortable subject we don’t actual want to think about or discuss. Road death is traumatic and avoidable. The reality of course if that there are far too many road deaths on our road and every single death creates heartful agony for the wives, husbands ,sons, daughters, brothers ,sisters, colleagues, and wider family/friendship networks of the road death victim– not just in the short term but for many years thereafter or indefinitely.

My team work very closely with RVT daily with the upmost trust and professionalism. Of course, this is delivered compassionately but I would flag how energetic ,engaged and focussed the RVT team is on supporting those affected by road deaths This is a unique service delivered across the three counties. Police are not councillors and cease FLO engagement at the conclusion of the court case. RVT goes way beyond this with specialist counselling staff delivering a bespoke service. The service they deliver is outstanding and dearly valued by me and my team, as we see what they do “in the shadows” repeatedly.

I recently popped into the RVT office in Kempston for a coffee and chat – despite the sad and traumatic nature of the work, the RVT team is committed to delivering the best counselling services in a friendly and compassionate manner. The service is free to those who need it. – I always feel a buzz of pride and positive caring collaboration when I engage with RVT colleagues – they are simply irreplaceable.

Here’s the thing – RVT are not centrally funded. The Police Crime Commissioner’s contribute but the main income stream to make all this happen is through personal and corporate contribution. Without this funding the work simply would not happen.

So,  my sign off message is very simple, be aware that RVT are there working throughout the year to support affected families and loved ones. Whilst Police make referrals into RVT the subsequent engagement and counselling is totally internal and confidential within RVT. Secondly please consider supporting RVT as an individual or a corporate contribution ,as funding is essential to keep the essential work active. A lastly – a big thank you to the whole of the RVT team for …. being you and doing what you do.

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Paul Cook
Chief Executive