A MAJOR police force is planning an innovative seminar to help fleet executives cope if an employee is killed while driving on company business.

South Yorkshire Police hopes to generate enough interest to be able to hold the one-day awareness seminar on Wednesday, January 22.

Family liaison officer Pc Jeff Goodright said: 'This awareness day will be of benefit to employers and to the families of the victims as we will show how they can work together.

'It is designed to show companies how they can deal with such incidents and is perfectly aimed at the fleet industry.'

Topics covered during the course will include the structure and aims of a police investigation, how the investigation will involve employers – for example, taking statements from staff and mobile phone records. It will also give an insight as to how a police investigation may impact on a company's staff and the organisation as a whole.

Other topics to be covered will be how employers can assist bereaved families with issues such as insurance and pensions, looking at the range of bereavement services available to families and how companies can assist them further, what happens at an inquest and what will be expected of the employer, and finally, preventative measures such as looking at fleets' existing company policies and suggestions to improve drivers' safety.

  • Attendance costs £125. For more information on the event contact Pc Jeff Goodright on 07810 852763 or e-mail jgoodright@southyorks.pnn.police.uk