A ground-breaking protocol providing guidance on the sensitive treatment of roadside shrines that often accompany sudden deaths has been developed in Croydon.
Adoption of the procedures follows consultation between Croydon Council and Croydon police and research undertaken in other London boroughs as well as with Transport for London.
Despite the increasing national trend of marking an accident or murder with floral tributes and other offerings, the Council was surprised to find that no other public organisation appears to have procedures in place for handling such occurrences.
In developing its own approach, Croydon has concluded that a common approach would not be entirely suitable and that each public fatality needs to be handled individually. However, the council recognises that all such incidents require both sensitivity and consistency.
Underpinning the council’s stance is the viewpoint that no permanent displays will be allowed at the roadside. However, although the Council said it is not appropriate to have a set time in respect of how long tributes should be left in place, generally they would not be removed until after a funeral has taken place.
Only if tributes were of such a scale that they were causing an obstruction or if they featured inflammatory messages or insignia would they be removed or shifted at an earlier stage.
The removal of shrines would always be done in consultation with the family of the deceased, often through the police family liaison officer who would ascertain views and ensure they are followed if possible. Plaques and cards will always be passed on to the family.
Cabinet member for safety and cohesion, Councillor Steve O’Connell commented: 'This is a really delicate subject which has to be treated with the utmost sensitivity. It’s perfectly understandable that grieving family members and friends want to mark a tragic fatality in a road accident or through violence, by a tribute at the exact place where someone died.'
Experience shows this can start happening within hours of a sudden death and sometimes the tributes can develop on a considerable scale. At the same time, though, we have to take account of residents who live close by and who may be discomforted by the length of time floral tributes or a shrine remain in place.
'Our intention is to deal with every situation on its merits, taking soundings from all concerned about how long something should remain before being taken away.
'We wouldn’t expect any tributes to turn into permanent features. There are more appropriate locations in cemeteries or churchyards for memorials although we would entertain requests to plant a tree in a park, for example, or to fund a memorial seat in a public place.
'I very much hope that through adopting these guidelines, and telling people that we have them, we will be able to give some comfort to all involved in these unhappy situations, whether through knowing the victim or because they happen to live in the immediate vicinity where the death occurred,' he added.
Adoption of the procedures follows consultation between Croydon Council and Croydon police and research undertaken in other London boroughs as well as with Transport for London.
Despite the increasing national trend of marking an accident or murder with floral tributes and other offerings, the Council was surprised to find that no other public organisation appears to have procedures in place for handling such occurrences.
In developing its own approach, Croydon has concluded that a common approach would not be entirely suitable and that each public fatality needs to be handled individually. However, the council recognises that all such incidents require both sensitivity and consistency.
Underpinning the council’s stance is the viewpoint that no permanent displays will be allowed at the roadside. However, although the Council said it is not appropriate to have a set time in respect of how long tributes should be left in place, generally they would not be removed until after a funeral has taken place.
Only if tributes were of such a scale that they were causing an obstruction or if they featured inflammatory messages or insignia would they be removed or shifted at an earlier stage.
The removal of shrines would always be done in consultation with the family of the deceased, often through the police family liaison officer who would ascertain views and ensure they are followed if possible. Plaques and cards will always be passed on to the family.
Cabinet member for safety and cohesion, Councillor Steve O’Connell commented: 'This is a really delicate subject which has to be treated with the utmost sensitivity. It’s perfectly understandable that grieving family members and friends want to mark a tragic fatality in a road accident or through violence, by a tribute at the exact place where someone died.'
Experience shows this can start happening within hours of a sudden death and sometimes the tributes can develop on a considerable scale. At the same time, though, we have to take account of residents who live close by and who may be discomforted by the length of time floral tributes or a shrine remain in place.
'Our intention is to deal with every situation on its merits, taking soundings from all concerned about how long something should remain before being taken away.
'We wouldn’t expect any tributes to turn into permanent features. There are more appropriate locations in cemeteries or churchyards for memorials although we would entertain requests to plant a tree in a park, for example, or to fund a memorial seat in a public place.
'I very much hope that through adopting these guidelines, and telling people that we have them, we will be able to give some comfort to all involved in these unhappy situations, whether through knowing the victim or because they happen to live in the immediate vicinity where the death occurred,' he added.
