2025-02-28-accounts - Murdered Abroad

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Registered number 05353121

Murdered Abroad

Trustee Report and Accounts

for the year ended 28 February 2025

Murdered Abroad Report and accounts Contents

	Page
Trustee report	1 - 3
Directors' report	4 - 5
Accountants' report	6
Profit and loss account	7
Balance sheet	8
Statement of changes in equity	9
Notes to the accounts	10 - 11
Detailed profit and loss account	12

Trustee Annual Report 2024/25

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity Name: Charity registration number: Company registration number: Registered office address:	Murdered Abroad 1111724 5353121 21 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DY
Trustees:	Eve Henderson, Co-Founder & Chair Brian Chandler, Treasurer Bren McLaughlin, Helpline
Patrons:	The Rt Hon. Lord Charles Falconer of Thoroton KC, Formerly Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. Commander David Johnston QPM Metropolitan Police (retired)
Accountant:	AJH Accounting Services Ltd, 24 Suffolk Drive, Guildford, Surrey GU47FD

The Trustees present their Annual Report for the period 1 March 2024 – 28 February 2025

Structure, Governance & Management

The charity was established in 2001 as Support After Murder and Manslaughter Abroad (SAMM Abroad) and incorporated in 2005. The Trustees elected to change the charity’s name to Murdered Abroad in 2014, due to previous public confusion with another charity with a similar name.

Murdered Abroad is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Murdered Abroad Ltd. During this year the Trustees agreed to revise our Articles of Association to allow non bereaved Trustees to be recruited, providing that the majority of Trustees had been bereaved by a murder overseas.

The Trustees of Murdered Abroad (all of whom have lived experience, having been bereaved by murder or manslaughter abroad) meet regularly to manage the charity’s fundraising, meetings, events and activities. The Trustees are grateful to Hogan Lovells for their expertise and help during the year.

Ten volunteers helped Murdered Abroad in the year by providing peer support, helping with the organisation of members’ events, attending promotional/educational events and general administrative assistance.

All Trustees and volunteers give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity.

Murdered Abroad has no paid employees.

Objectives

Around 70 murders of British nationals are committed abroad each year. Each member’s case may typically take between two and seven years for a perpetrator to be brought to justice if indeed anybody is prosecuted for the crime at all.

Murdered Abroad aims to provide:

Peer Support for members
Engagement with, and feedback to, the key UK statutory agencies (Police, Coroners, and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office) involved after a murder abroad, so that they may improve the services they offer and reduce the distress they cause to bereaved families.

Key Activities

Peer Support

Murdered Abroad’s core work is to provide bereaved families and friends with the opportunity to connect with others who have experienced a similar, traumatic bereavement.

Peer support meetings, to which all 350+ members are invited, are held approximately every quarter at different regional locations. This year they were held in Gloucester, Northampton, and London. Unfortunately, the GMP Manchester venue was unavailable in 2024 but it has been reserved with the Chief Constable for September 2025. Members from around the country attend the meeting most local to them.

April: Gloucester Police HQ, Guest Speakers: Bernie Kinsella, (retired SIO) and Roger P (Murdered Abroad member). 20 members attended.

June: Two-day meeting at the University of Northampton, Guest Speakers: Jonathon Dixey, Barrister; Paula St John, Family Liaison Officer; Liam Brolan, Criminologist; Reflection and Remembrance Service, Chrissie Brolan; 22 Members attended.

November: Watermen’s Hall, London. Guest speakers: Perry Benton, Metropolitan police SIO; Ben Cooper, Documentary Producer; Guy Fithen, Podcast producer; 25 members attended.

Helpline and Website

The Murdered Abroad Helpline (0845 123 2384) is the Charity’s primary communication tool for its members and enquirers. The website: www.murdered-abroad.org.uk is also a valuable resource offering guidance to families and professionals.

The Helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year. On the rare occasion that the Helpline cannot be immediately answered, callers will be connected to the answerphone and will receive a call back, normally within 24 hours.

Trustee Bren McLaughlin runs the Helpline. She provides information, guidance, practical and emotional support to callers in addition to fielding enquiries from the media and other organisations.

Campaigning, Education, Publications

Principal liaison activities this year have included:

The Mayor of London’s Office for Policing & Crime (MOPAC)’s Victims’ Reference Group (VRG) chaired by London’s Victims’ Commissioner, Claire Waxman.
One Trustee was invited to join Baroness Helen Newlove, the Victim Commissioner’s Victims Advisory Group (VCAG)
One Trustee and one Adviser met quarterly with the Head of the Murder & Manslaughter Team (MMT) at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Membership of FLACSS (Family Liaison & Co-ordination of Support Services) quarterly meetings with the Chair of FLACSS Chief Constable of Nottingham Constabulary who also sits on the Homicide Working Group (HWG) of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
Engagement with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) regarding the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICS and the Victims’ Code of Practice (VCoP).
The Victims & Prisoners bill was debated in the House of Commons and the House of Lords - Baroness Newlove, (Victims Commissioner), Baroness Brinton, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff with the Act finally being passed in the final stages of the last parliament.

Three on-going projects involve:

the compilation of a useful list of competent English speaking criminal lawyers in foreign countries,
the setting up of pro-bono translation services in the UK,
the production of a series of multi-media podcasts.

Fundraising

This year fundraising took a backseat to allow concentration on the above 3 projects. No runner places were available for Murdered Abroad in the London Marathon. Significant funds were received from families whom we had helped previously.

Trustee Development

All Trustees took part in IT training on hardware and software.

Reserve policies (financial)

Trustees have set our Financial Reserves Policy at a higher level than that suggested for most small charities. We intend to hold cash reserves in excess of 3 years’ operating costs.

Public benefit

Families suddenly bereaved by a homicide abroad start their difficult journey with no knowledge of what to do next. In their most difficult hour of need, following the most devastating event of their lives, there is little state help. At first, family and friends have limited understanding of the processes involved and they rightly expect compassion, understanding, assistance and guidance from the professionals in the three UK authorities with whom they will be dealing. They are often, sadly disappointed. In one case we assisted a family involved in Interpol’s ‘Operation Identify Me’, following the Belgian, German and Dutch Police’s “Cold Case Reviews” into the deaths of 22 murdered women that finally identified the body of a Cardiff woman murdered in 1992.

Murdered Abroad provides the only source of competent expertise with a systemic memory and comprehensive understanding, with 24/7, 365/day per annum support.

This year assistance and peer support was given to families bereaved by murders in:

Australia, Bangladesh, France, Gambia, Ghana (2), India (2), Jamaica, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, South Africa (2), Spain, Thailand (2) Tenerife, Turkey, and USA.

Note: Members’ full names are omitted from this report to maintain confidentiality.

Murdered Abroad Registered number: 05353121 Directors' Report

The directors present their report and accounts for the year ended 28 February 2025.

Principal activities

The Charity's principal activity during the period was to promote for the benefit of the public any charitable purpose directed to assisting those who have lost through death, resulting from murder, manslaughter or unlawful killing, outside the United Kingdom.

The Charity is governed by the Memorandum and Articles Of Association. It is also a Registered Charity, number 1111724.

A Company Limited by Guarantee

The Charity has not issued any share capital as it is limited by guarantee.

Results and dividends

The result for the year of the Charity's activities was a surplus of £16,170 (2024 - deficit of £2,528).

Directors

The following persons served as directors during the year:

B M Chandler E M Henderson B McLaughlin

Directors' responsibilities

The directors are responsible for preparing the report and accounts in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare accounts for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the accounts in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these accounts, the directors are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
● prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Murdered Abroad Registered number: 05353121 Directors' Report

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

This report was approved by the board on 24 June 2025 and signed by its order.

B M Chandler Director and Trustee

Murdered Abroad Accountants' Report

Accountants' report to the directors of Murdered Abroad

You consider that the company is exempt from an audit for the year ended 28 February 2025. You have acknowledged, on the balance sheet, your responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. These responsibilities include preparing accounts that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company at the end of the financial year and of its profit or loss for the financial year.

In accordance with your instructions, we have prepared the accounts which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes from the accounting records of the company and on the basis of information and explanations you have given to us.

We have not carried out an audit or any other review, and consequently we do not express any opinion on these accounts.

AJH Accounting

Services Ltd

AJH Accounting Services Limited Accountants

24 Suffolk Drive Guildford Surrey GU4 7FD

24 June 2025

Murdered Abroad

Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 28 February 2025

Notes Turnover Administrative expenses Other operating income Net income resources for the period	2025 £ 29,453 (19,657) 6,374 16,170	2024 £ 8,175 (15,512) 4,809
		(2,528)

Murdered Abroad Registered number: 05353121 Balance Sheet as at 28 February 2025

	Notes		2025		2024
			£		£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	4		-		818
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand	5	83,798		71,523
Net current assets			82,137		71,523
Total assets less current liabilities			82,137		72,341
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year	6		(24,068)		(30,442)
Net assets			58,069		41,899
Capital and reserves
Share premium			2,964		2,964
Profit and loss account			55,105		38,935
Shareholders' funds			58,069		41,899

The directors are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The profit and loss account has not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.

E M Henderson Director Approved by the board on 24 June 2025

Murdered Abroad

Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 28 February 2025

At 1 March 2023 Net income resources for the period At 29 February 2024 At 1 March 2024 Net income resources for the period At 28 February 2025	Share capital £ - - - -	Share premium £ 2,964 2,964 2,964 2,964	Profit and loss account £ 41,463 (2,528) 38,935 38,935 16,170 55,105	Total £ 44,427 (2,528)
				41,899
				41,899 16,170
				58,069

On incorporation of the company, a bank balance of £2,964 was in existence as a result of when the registered charity was a non corporate entity.

Murdered Abroad Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 28 February 2025

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Turnover

Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and value added taxes. Turnover includes revenue earned from the sale of goods and from the rendering of services. Turnover from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have transferred to the buyer. Turnover from the rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract. The stage of completion of a contract is measured by comparing the costs incurred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract costs.

Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative depreciation and any accumulative impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows:

Freehold buildings	over 50 years
Leasehold land and buildings	over the lease term
Office equipment & IT	over 4 years
Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment	over 4 years

Debtors

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price), less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. Loans and other financial assets are initially recognised at transaction price including any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts.

Creditors

Short term creditors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price). Loans and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at transaction price net of any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method.

Taxation

The company is a registered charity therefore does not pay taxation on any surpluses it makes in a financial period

The company being a charity is not registered for VAT purposes, therefore no input VAT is recoverable. All unrecovered VAT is charged to the relevant cost centres as it's incurred.

2 Employees Average number of persons employed by the charity	2025 Number 3	2024 Number 4

3 Directors and trustees

No directors or trustees were paid remuneration for services provided.

Murdered Abroad Notes to the Accounts

for the year ended 28 February 2025

4 Tangible fixed assets

Cost At 1 March 2024 and 28 February 2025 Depreciation At 1 March 2024 Charge for the year At 28 February 2025 Net book value At 28 February 2025 At 29 February 2024 5 Cash at bank and in hand 2025 £ Cash at bank 83,798	Office equipment £ 9,953
	9,135 818
	9,953
	-
	818
	2024 £ 71,523

Included in the above cash balance at year end is a restricted balance of £24,068 (2023 - £30,442). This was derived from a grant received in the 2022-23 year of $40,000 for the Charity to spend on specific nominated projects.

6	Creditors: amounts falling due after one year	2025	2024
		£	£
	Other creditors	24,068	30,442

Included above is the outstanding balance of a grant that the Charity received in a prior year.

7 Other information

Murdered Abroad is a private company limited by guarantee and has no share capital and is incorporated in England and Wales. Its registered office is 21 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DY

Murdered Abroad

Detailed profit and loss account for the year ended 28 February 2025

Sales Sales Administrative expenses Trustee costs Project fund costs Travel and subsistence Fund raising expenses Premises costs: Meeting committee expenses Meetings with UK agencies Meetings for Murdered Abroad Members General administrative expenses: Telephone and fax Stationery and printing IT expenses Depreciation Legal and professional costs: Other legal and professional Other operating income Other operating income	2025 £ 29,453 6,401 304 325 7,030 141 160 7,195 7,496 1,189 56 2,544 818 4,805 326 326 19,657 6,374	2024 £ 8,175
		4,809 97 362
		5,268
		119 149 6,951
		7,219
		1,216 215 420 818
		2,669
		356
		356

		15,512
		4,809