National award for officer

A Dorset Police officer has received a national award for the care and support that she provided to a family whose son was murdered in Bournemouth in November 2008.

Sergeant Lorna Gallimore – who is based at Winton police station – received the Outstanding Family Liaison Officer award at a special ceremony in London on Tuesday 23 February 2010.

Hazel Hayes is the mother of Luke Campbell who was murdered in November 2008 at the age of 20. Sergeant Gallimore was appointed as Hazel’s Family Liaison Officer following Luke’s death and it was Hazel who nominated Sergeant Gallimore for the award.

The award ceremony recognised outstanding service to victims and took place at Congress Hall in London following the MAMAA (Mothers Against Murder and Aggression) annual conference, which addresses victim issues.

After receiving the award, Sergeant Gallimore said: “I felt really humbled to be part of the conference, sitting among people who had lost loved ones at the hands of someone else.

“It was a tremendous honour and a humbling experience to receive the award and I was very proud to receive it.

“I thanked Hazel for nominating me, and I accepted the award not only for myself, but on behalf of all Dorset Family Liaison Officers as I truly believe that the standard of Dorset’s Family Liaison Officers is such that whoever would have been chosen to be Hazel's Family Liaison Officer would also have received this award.”

In nominating Sergeant Gallimore for this award, Hazel Hayes said: “The minute Lorna was appointed as my Family Liaison Office she made herself available to me 24 hours per day.

“That has continued throughout, nothing has been too much trouble. The support and care has been amazing.”

Family Liaison Officers are specially trained to deal with people bereaved in sudden traumatic circumstances.

There are currently approximately 47 trained Family Liaison Officers within Dorset Police.

MAMAA is a national registered charity which has offered victim care and advocacy since 1993 – their website is www.mamaa.org. MAMAA contacted Hazel Hayes soon after the murder investigation began and they have remained a source of comfort to her since.

In November 2009, three men from London were convicted of Luke Campbell’s murder at Winchester Crown Court – with all three men being sentenced to life imprisonment.