The meaning of ‘things’: The evolution of an ethic of care in the return of personal effects after disaster 2001–2019

Abstract The right to the return of personal effects belonging to loved ones after sudden death requires both protection and promotion. It is a fragile ‘right’ that can easily be undermined, and may require support from policy and legislation. The author has championed the return of personal effects after bereavement throughout her career in disaster response and was influenced by early examples of poor treatment and destruction. This article provides an evaluation of the historic picture and a reflection on the ongoing work to ensure that property is protected and restored. It also discusses whether the UK now has an ‘ethic of care’ in this area. This piece considers a number of recent case studies drawing on the author’s own experiences of working on incidents between 2001 and the present day, with specific examination of the work of the Metropolitan Police’s Property Restoration Team in 2005.