The Domestic Abuse Commissioner is an independent role, established in law by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, to improve how domestic abuse is prevented and responded to across England and Wales.
At its core, the role is about providing leadership, oversight and accountability – making sure our systems work better for victims and survivors.
Our powers and independence
The law allows us to request and publish information about services, advise public authorities, and report on any issue related to domestic abuse.
We are independent of government, which means we can challenge systems, highlight where they are falling short, and speak openly about what needs to change.
What we do
Our legal duty is to encourage good practice in the prevention of domestic abuse, and in how public services identify, protect and support victims, survivors and their children.
We do this by looking across the whole system. In practice, this includes:
- monitoring how services are working and identifying gaps in support
- publishing reports and making recommendations to government and public bodies
- building evidence through research and engagement with survivors, specialist services and statutory agencies
The government and statutory agencies must respond to our recommendations within 56 days, helping ensure transparency and accountability.
Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews
Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDR) are multi-agency reviews carried out after a death where domestic abuse is suspected, commissioned locally by Community Safety Partnerships.
By law, published reviews must be shared with the Domestic Abuse Commissioner as soon as reasonably possible. This helps us build a national picture of domestic abuse-related deaths and understand where systems are failing. We use this evidence to draw out national learning and drive system-wide change – our role is not to oversee individual reviews. To share a DARDR find our contact information here.
What we cannot do
It is important to be clear about the legal limits of our role.
- We cannot intervene in individual cases. We do not provide casework, influence police or court decisions, or change the outcome of a specific situation.
- We cannot direct public bodies in individual cases. Our role is to influence through evidence, reporting and recommendations, not on case-by-case decisions.
What this means for survivors
If you are experiencing domestic abuse and need help, specialist services such as helplines, charities and local statutory services can provide direct support. You can get help here.
While we cannot take up individual cases, we use evidence, including survivors’ experiences, to push for long-term improvements, so that our systems work better for everyone. You can get involved here.
How we make a difference
By holding organisations to account and highlighting where change is needed, we aim to improve the overall response to domestic abuse. Our focus is on ensuring that victims and survivors receive the protection and support they need to recover and rebuild, wherever they live.