Pauline Fielding MBE, our amazing North West Local Group coordinator and long standing Trustee has been recognised with a Commendation from Merseyside Police:

For your commitment and dedication to making the roads of Merseyside safer for more than two decades. The support you have provided to bereaved families throughout this time is beyond measure.  You have been a consistent support to Merseyside Police as a member of the Merseyside Independent Advisory Group and your work through Road Peace.

The award was presented to Pauline at a RoadPeace meeting held on 1st March at the Merseyside Police HQ by DCC Ian Critchley QPM and DCS Andy Ryan, Head of Prevention.

DCC Critchley said:

‘It has been a  privilege to have known and seen the work of Pauline Fielding MBE in my time in Merseyside Police. Pauline s determination , passion and sheer will to make the roads safer comes from her own personal tragedy and the devastating loss of her and her Husband David’s son , Andrew,  in 1994. To lose a son in such tragic circumstances is devastating, made worse by the offending driver never being traced and brought to justice . Through working with Pauline and RoadPeace together with policing colleagues from our Road Policing Team, we have been able to learn how best to support and work with a family from the outset, when a loved one has been lost in a Road Traffic Collision .

I learnt very quickly from Pauline how important this communication was – never use the word accident – it’s not , it’s a collision and is almost always avoidable. Secondly never use the word closure. Whilst a court case may lead to a conviction , it only closes the criminal justice door, but can never take away from  the life long impact that losing a loved one  in such avoidable and needless circumstances has on a family.  

I recognise that sentencing is a matter for the courts but I   believe the sentencing for someone using a vehicle like a lethal weapon and killing someone has no parity with other homicide investigations . Pauline has helped so many families share in their grief and has helped us in Merseyside Police continue in our ambition towards Vision Zero, a time where all avoidable collisions are prevented on the roads of Merseyside . I  sincerely thank Pauline for the learning she has given me to help me and Merseyside Police drive improvements in road safety prevention and enforcement .As such it was an honour with DCS Andy Ryan to commend Pauline at last week’s Merseyside RoadPeace meeting.

Huge congratulations to Pauline for being recognised in this way for all that you have done to reduce road danger and help other families, in memory of Andrew.

The citation in full is as follows:

‘Pauline started campaigning for justice after her 18-year-old son Andrew was killed in a collision when travelling to a football match with friends in 1994. The driver of the car did not stop and was never found. Since Andrew’s death, Pauline has been campaigning for changes at the junction and has successfully managed to get the speed limit on the road reduced from 60mph to 40mph.

Determined to campaign to prevent the same thing happening to others, she joined RoadPeace, a charity supporting road crash victims, both emotionally and practically. Through RoadPeace, Pauline was invited with another bereaved member, to speak to officers of Merseyside Police to tell them their stories. Following their talk, Merseyside Police decided to assign Family Liaison Officers to those bereaved through road crashes.

Pauline has organised and set up the local RoadPeace group for the North West region. Merseyside Police host those meetings, and this has proven a great insight to the force, receiving positive feedback from everyone involved.  As well as the monthly meetings, Pauline organises two remembrance services every year in Liverpool for road crash victims, in liaison with the Police and other organisations. The first service is held in Liverpool Cathedral on 31 August, the anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and the following service is held in St George’s Hall, on the third Sunday of November, to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

In addition to this, she helps organise the ‘RoadPeace Cup,’ a football tournament with the aim of engaging young footballers in keeping safe on the roads. This is brought together in conjunction with Merseyside Police, the Merseyside Road Safety Partnership, the PCC, the Fire and Rescue Service and others. It has proved to be a proactive way of engaging young people through the power of football.

Pauline is also a valued and active volunteer for the Merseyside Independent Advisory Group the (MIAG) and takes part in numerous force meetings, assisting with community feedback and giving valuable insight back to Merseyside Police. She also attends many of the Public Scrutiny Panels and assists the force Community Engagement Unit, alongside the newly formed Fairness in Policing Team. She has embraced the Prevention strand attending Force launch events and is tireless in her approach, always giving encouragement and inspiration to all that meet her. ‘ 

Updated on: 9 March 2023