A BEREAVED Rugby couple have presented awards to two police collision investigators who went the extra mile to help their communities, in memory of their daughter who was killed by a dangerous driver.
George Atkinson and Giulietta Galli-Atkinson held the 26th Livia Award for Professionalism and Service to Justice at a ceremony at New Scotland Yard.
They founded the award in the name of their daughter Livia, who died at the age of 16 in 1998 when a driver mounted the pavement and ran her over while she was walking to her ballet class in Enfield.
Inspired by the police team who dealt with Livia’s case, the couple established the award to highlight the work of Serious Collision Investigators (SCI) and Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) in the Metropolitan Police.
The 2025 winner of the Livia Award was DC Caroline Landy, an FLO whose case involved a jogger who stepped on to a zebra crossing and was hit by a speeding bus.
DC Landy was commended for conducting her role with compassion and constant support which is thought to have saved the life of the victim’s wife, who suffered from mental health issues and became traumatized and paranoid after her husband’s death.
The Runner Up was DC Elliott Lazarus, who investigated a crash caused by a man he discovered to be a Romanian criminal who had been imprisoned in Romania for serious driving offences, and who was illegally in the UK.
DC Lazarus’ work helped to secure a guilty verdict for Causing Serious Injury by Dangerous Driving, which saw the culprit jailed for over four years and deported.
Both officers received the Prime Minister’s Message of Congratulation, presented by Stephen Twigg, Secretary-General of the Parliamentary Commonwealth Association and Chair of the Livia Award.
Giulietta and George said: “The Livia Award began as a personal thank you to the Met Serious Collision Investigators assigned to Livia’s case, who had been exceptionally professional and caring – but we decided to build on their professional qualities to boost morale and encourage uniform best practise.
“We feel privileged and honoured to have been able to showcase these specialists, year on year, who go that extra mile to ensure that justice is done at their level of professional responsibility. They have our respect, gratitude and support.
“In commemorating Livia, the award also offers a campaigning platform that focuses on road safety issues and problems, with calls on the government to action strong measures, like the Graduated Driving License, to decrease the burden of road casualties among 17-24-year-olds.”
Rugby MP John Slinger, who attended the award ceremony, said road safety was a priority of his.
He added: “It’s a clear example of where governmental action, through legislation and other measures, can directly and indirectly reduce road crashes.
“Giulietta and George live in my constituency and have been in touch with me since I was elected. Their dignified, principled and tireless campaigning on road safety is inspiring.
“All road crashes are ultimately preventable. I’m glad that a ‘Safe System’ and ‘Vision Zero’ approach is being adopted more within the UK. I’ve spoken to the Road Safety Minister many times about issues raised with me by campaigners such as Giulietta and George.
“The government’s imminent road safety strategy will, I’m confident, include many measures that will improve road safety. We owe it to the memory of past victims, and we owe it to road users now and in the future to do more.”
The awards were presented by the Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley QPM and the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Tim Cox, in front of an audience of over 100 guests, including Mr Slinger, DfT Minister Lilian Greenwood, the TfL Commissioner Andy Lord, and previous Rugby MP Mark Pawsey.
