Domestic Homicide Reviews
A Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) is a review into the circumstances around a death of someone following domestic abuse. The purpose is to establish what can be learned from the death regarding the way in which local professionals and organisations work individually and together to safeguard victims. This can include cases of suicide where the circumstances give rise to concern. For example, it emerges that there was coercive controlling behaviour in the relationship.
Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHR) were established by the Home Office on a statutory basis under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims act (2004). They came into effect on 13 April 2011.
A Domestic Homicide Review is a review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by:
- a person to whom they were related or were a member of the same household, or
- with whom they were or had been in an intimate personal relationship
Community Safety Partnerships are responsible for managing the Domestic Homicide Review process. In Sefton, this is the Safer Sefton Together Partnership.
New Fatal domestic abuse reviews renamed to better recognise suicide cases.
The government has announced that the name of these reviews will be changed from ‘Domestic Homicide Review’ to ‘Domestic Abuse Related Death Review’, to better reflect all deaths which fall within their scope.
Minister for Victims and Safeguarding, Laura Farris said:
This government has made significant progress addressing fatal domestic abuse, including through our landmark Domestic Abuse Act.
However, there is more to do, and we also need to focus on hidden victims who die from domestic abuse related suicide.
These changes to will enable agencies to contextualise these horrific offences even if the domestic abuse was not physical in nature, better identify the warnings signs and ultimately, save lives.
A Domestic Homicide Review is a multi-agency review which seeks to identify and implement lessons learnt from deaths which have, or appear to have, resulted from domestic abuse.
Fatal domestic abuse reviews renamed to better recognise suicide cases - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Further Reading
Further resources can be found at Sefton Council website here (page opens in new window)