Mimi Conder Advocates for "Jason's Law" to Mandate Police Support After Suicide
**Mimi Conder**, grieving the loss of her husband **Jason**, is petitioning for mandatory police support for families affected by suicide. She is advocating for the introduction of **Jason's Law** to provide bereaved families with guidance and support from a family support officer (FLO) following such a devastating loss.
The Need for Aftercare: A Family's Experience
According to **Mimi Conder**, the aftermath of **Jason's** death in September 2024 was a confusing and overwhelming experience. She felt ill-equipped to navigate the police questioning, inquest, and other processes. "We weren't provided with any aftercare whatsoever, we weren't given any breakdown of the processes," she stated.
Left to her own devices, she had to research what an inquest was and seek out child bereavement services for her children. The lack of support during this traumatic time highlighted the urgent need for a dedicated system of support. Bereaved families should not be left alone during this challenging moment.
Jason's Law: A Call for Consistent Support
**Jason's Law** aims to provide families like **Mimi's** with trained officers who can offer consistent support, communication, and guidance during investigations, inquests, and the immediate aftermath of a suicide. The petition does not seek a "shoulder to cry on" but rather a source of practical and procedural assistance.
"If I had someone there... then 100% I feel like I would have been able to process it a lot quicker than I did, or am still doing," explains **Mimi Conder**.
Current Police Practices and the Petition's Impact
Currently, **Thames Valley Police** employs FLOs to assist bereaved families in criminal investigations. However, this service is not typically extended to cases of suicide, as they are not considered suspicious deaths. This leaves a gap in support for families dealing with the unique challenges associated with suicide bereavement.
The government responds to all petitions exceeding 10,000 signatures, offering a platform for **Mimi Conder** to raise awareness and advocate for change in police practices. The petition is an effort to bridge a terrible support gap.
Thames Valley Police Response
**Thames Valley Police** stated, "We recognise the enormous impact suicides have on families, and **Thames Valley Police** follow National Police Chiefs' Council guidance for deployment of FLOs. Suicides are investigated on behalf of the appropriate coroner and are not considered to be suspicious deaths, and so a FLO deployment is not generally required."
