The survey forms part of the Victims' Commissioner's policy review into the help and support given to families bereaved through murder, manslaughter or road death which will be presented to the Justice Secretary next month.
The Commissioner surveyed 36 bereaved families. The most commonly incurred costs incurred in addition to funeral costs were loss of earnings (35) legal (22); Criminal Justice System related (22); domestic (21) and counselling (14).
* Total estimated costs incurred for 36 families were £1.3 million (£4 million if loss of earnings is included) over five years. This equates to around £37,000 per family or £113,000 annually if loss of earnings is included. Half of the families surveyed say costs are still ongoing.
* There were separate costs for domestic homicides and culpable road-deaths, and homicides abroad. The total estimated cost for 30 families of domestic homicides/road-deaths was £985,000 (£2.4 million if include loss of earnings) over five years. This works out as around £33,000 per family, or £81,000 if loss of earnings included;
* Total estimated cost for six families of homicides abroad were £358K (£1.6 million if include loss of earnings); this works out as around £59K per family, or £278K if loss of earnings is included.