Domestic homicide reviews
What is a domestic homicide review?
A domestic homicide review looks at the death of someone aged 16 or older. It happens when the person may have died because of:
- Violence
- Abuse
- Neglect
This could be from a family member, someone they lived with, or someone they were in a relationship with.
Why do we do these reviews?
The review helps us:
- Understand what happened
- Learn how services can do better in the future
- Keep people safer
We want to stop similar tragedies from happening again.
Who is involved?
A group of people from different services work together. This includes:
- Police
- Social workers
- Councils
- Local charities and support groups
An independent chair leads the review. The group looks at how each service helped the person and what could be improved.
We also listen to:
- Family
- Friends
- Work colleagues
They help us understand the person’s life and how services were involved.
What a review is not
A domestic homicide review is not:
- A way to find out who is to blame
- A legal trial or inquest
- A disciplinary process
It is extra to any police or court action.
What happens next?
We use what we learn to:
- Make services better
- Help them work together
- Prevent future deaths