No one should lose their life to domestic abuse
When someone dies because of domestic abuse, it represents a profound failure across society, government, and the systems designed to keep people safe. These deaths are preventable, and each one highlights missed opportunities to intervene, protect victims, and stop harm.
In the past year, more than 340 people in England and Wales were recorded as having died because of domestic abuse. Suicide has remained the leading cause of death among people experiencing domestic abuse for the third consecutive year. Behind these figures are individuals, families, and communities whose lives have been permanently changed.
Understanding domestic abuse-related deaths
Since 2011, local authorities have been required to carry out Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs) – previously known as Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) – when a person dies because of domestic abuse.
These reviews are intended to:
- Understand the circumstances leading to a death
- Identify where opportunities to intervene were missed
- Ensure lessons are learned and shared locally and nationally
- Help prevent future deaths, including homicide and suicide
DARDRs are a vital tool in improving responses to domestic abuse. They offer important insights into how agencies – including the police, health services, and social care – can work better together to identify risk and intervene earlier.
Gaps in accountability and funding
Despite the importance of these reviews, there is currently no consistent national system across England and Wales to ensure that the recommendations stemming from DARDRs are acted upon.
This means:
- It is often unclear whether lessons identified lead to meaningful change
- Recommendations can be delayed, overlooked, or lost
- Opportunities to prevent future deaths can be missed
At the same time, local areas face increasing pressure to carry out a growing number of reviews, with limited dedicated funding to support this work. Without sufficient resources, the quality, timeliness, and impact of these reviews risk being affected.
What the Commissioner has called for
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner has called for stronger national leadership to ensure that the learnings gathered from domestic abuse-related death reviews lead to real and lasting change.
Key recommendations include:
- A national oversight system, supported by a digital tool, to track recommendations and monitor progress
- Greater accountability, ensuring that agencies take responsibility for implementing improvements
- Sustainable funding for local areas to carry out high-quality DARDRs
- Better national coordination, so lessons are consistently shared and acted upon
While the government has committed to developing a digital oversight tool, no dedicated funding has yet been confirmed to support local areas in delivering this vital work.
Driving change and preventing future deaths
The Commissioner is clear that this must change. Preventing domestic abuse-related deaths require a coordinated, well-resourced, and accountable system.
Our office will continue to work with government, national agencies, and local partners to:
- Strengthen oversight of domestic abuse-related death reviews
- Push for the funding needed to deliver effective reviews
- Ensure that lessons are not just identified, but implemented
- Improve the protection and support available to victims
By improving how we respond to these tragedies, we can better protect victims and help prevent future loss of life.
Find out more
Learn more about the Commissioner’s work to improve accountability and strengthen our systems to prevent future deaths.