Mum of son who died after unintentional overdose urging abuse survivors to seek support
A mum from Wakefield, whose son died after an unintentional overdose, is urging alleged survivors of abuse to speak out and seek support
Last updated 10th Aug 2026
A mum from Wakefield whose son died from an unintentional overdose, years after allegedly being abused is calling for survivors to speak up.
Briony Hallas' son, Joe passed away in 2020 after he collapsed at work in Eggborough. He was found with cocaine in his system.
She thinks that if he hadn't of experienced the alleged abuse, he might still be here, and explained she thinks the drugs might have been a coping mechanism.
Briony said: “It was one instance, but that’s all it takes and Joe felt unable to speak out at the time, developing his own coping strategies which in turn led to other things that weren’t helpful to him, ultimately leading to his death."
"If you’re the victim of any abuse, please speak out and accept help as it’s never your fault and people are there to support you."
Briony is working with West Yorkshire's Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Alison Lowe.
Along with the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin, they've unveiled a new strategy intended to improve support for victims, survivors, and witnesses within the region's criminal justice system.
The strategy prioritises placing victims at the heart of the criminal justice process, ensuring equity of access, and focusing on the victims' journey.
It aims to help victims and survivors stay safe from abuse, improve their experience within the criminal justice system, and bring more perpetrators to justice.
This initiative is part of the larger West Yorkshire Police and Crime Plan, which supports victims and witnesses.
Mayor Tracy Brabin has secured £4.8 million from the Ministry of Justice between 2024 and 2025, funding 32 services that support more than 73,466 victims of crime across West Yorkshire.
The West Yorkshire Women's Safety Unit is another innovative measure, working to reduce investigation times and increasing awareness and use of protective orders and disclosure schemes.
Alison Lowe OBE said: "My message to victims of crime is that you're not alone and you can ask for help whenever you need it."
"As a survivor, I know how important it is for people to have easy access to support and to know someone has their back during a stressful and often traumatic time."
"Improving trust and confidence in the criminal justice system is vital to our plans for a safer, fairer West Yorkshire."
The strategy outlines several actions, including influencing policy, building trust and confidence in policing, ensuring victims are kept informed during investigations and court processes, and improving access to special measures for vulnerable victims.