Domestic abuse is a significant national and local issue, having a major impact on those directly affected and their families. Domestic abuse has significant short and long-term effects on victims and their families; this includes physical injuries, mental health issues, and behavioural issues that can lead to substance misuse, self-harm, and suicide. There are, sadly, occasions when domestic abuse can result in the death of a person, which is known as a domestic homicide.
A “domestic homicide” is defined as the death of a person aged 16 or over which has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect either by a person to whom the deceased was related or with whom the deceased was in an intimate relationship with, or was a member of the same household as the victim. Under these circumstances, Section 9 of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004 places a legal duty on the Knowsley Community Safety Partnership (the Partnership) to conduct a Review into a death. In Knowsley, the Community Safety Service coordinates the review process following the completion/conclusion of any criminal justice process.
The Knowsley Community Safety Partnership must appoint an Independent Author and an Independent Chairperson to undertake the domestic homicide review. The purpose of a domestic homicide review is to:
- Establish lessons which could be learned regarding the way in which local professionals and organisations work individually and together to safeguard victims.
- Identify clearly what those lessons are within and between agencies, how and within what timescales they will be acted on, and what is expected to change.
- Apply these lessons to service responses, including changes to inform national and local policies and procedures as appropriate.
- Prevent domestic violence and homicide and improve service responses for all domestic violence and abuse victims.
- Contribute to a better understanding on the nature of domestic violence and abuse; and,
- Highlight good practice.
For information in relation to Knowsley domestic homicide reviews/domestic abuse-related deaths, please email DHR@knowsley.gov.uk.
Recent Knowsley domestic homicide reviews (DHR KMBC)
DHR KMBC01
- Overview report KMBC01 (2013)
- Action Plan KMBC01 (2013)
DHR KMBC 02/ Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR)
- SAR/DHR Overview report into the death of Margaret (2016)-not published.
- Summary report into the death of Margaret -not published.
- Home Office Feedback Letter - not published.
- Action Plan Margaret -not published.
For information in relation to DHR KMBC 02/ Safeguarding Adults Review (SAR), email DHR@knowsley.gov.uk
DHR KMBC03
- Overview report into the death of Victoria (2017) – not published.
- Action Plan Victoria (2017) – not published.
- Home Office Feedback Letter Victoria (2021) – not published
- For information in relation to DHR KMBC 03: email DHR@knowsley.gov.uk
DHR KMBC04
- Overview report into the death of Alison (2020) - not published.
- Action Plan - Alison (2020) – not published.
- Home Office Feedback Letter – 2023 - not published.
- For information in relation to DHR KMBC 04: email DHR@knowsley.gov.uk
Further information
- Home Office multi-agency statutory guidance for the conduct of domestic homicide reviews
- Leaflets from the Home Office website
- AAFDA - Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse - offers support to those affected by a domestic homicide, regardless of whether they are involved in a homicide review