Domestic homicide review guidance

About domestic homicide reviews

A Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) 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 she or he was related
• person whom she or he was or had been in an intimate personal relationship
• member of the same household as her or himself

The aim of the review is so that lessons can be learnt from the death.

Even if a suspect is not charged with an offence or they are tried and acquitted, a DHR can also be undertaken. This might be where a victim took their own life (suicide) and the circumstances cause concern. For example it emerges that there was coercive controlling behaviour in the relationship.

DHRs were established on a statutory basis in April 2011, under Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004). Revised Multi-Agency Statutory Guidance for the Conduct of Domestic Homicide Reviews (‘the statutory guidance’) was issued in 2016.

View the statutory guidance on the GOV.UK.

The purpose of a DHR

DHRs look at how local professionals and organisations can improve the way they work together. They can identify what needs to change to reduce the risk of a homicide happening again. 

DHRs aim to:

• establish what lessons are to be learned from the domestic homicide regarding the way in which local professionals and organisations work individually and together to safeguard victims
• identify clearly what those lessons are both within and between agencies, how and within what timescales they will be acted on, and what is expected to change as a result
• apply those lessons to service responses including changes to policies and procedures as appropriate
• help services work to prevent domestic violence and improve service responses for all domestic violence victims and their children through improved intra and inter-agency working

Who is responsible for DHRs

The Brighton & Hove Community Safety Partnership is responsible for a DHR.

Establishing a DHR

When a domestic homicide occurs, Sussex Police will inform the Brighton & Hove Community Safety Partnership in writing of the incident. However, any professional or agency may refer a case in writing if it is believed that there are important lessons to be learnt.

The chair of the Brighton & Hove Community Safety Partnership is responsible for establishing whether a death is to be the subject of a DHR.

They will:

• consider the definition set out in section 1 of the 2004 Act – see section 2 of the statutory guidance
• consult with local partners that understand the dynamics of domestic violence and abuse

They need to decide whether or not to proceed with a DHR within one month of a death coming to attention.

The DHR process

The statutory guidance sets out the process for conducting a DHR, which in summary has 3 stages.

The review

The review stage includes:

• an independent chair appointed and review panel convened
• a summary of engagement or individual management reviews
• contact with family, friends and (sometimes) the perpetrator
• a link to any other parallel reviews or processes

The report

The report stage includes:

• production of an overview report and an executive summary
• sign off locally and quality assured by Home Office

Next steps

The next steps stage includes:

• developing an action plan
• monitoring the implementation of any single or multi-agency actions
• publishing an anonymised overview report and executive summary
• disseminating learning across the professional network

When we undertake a DHR, the local Safeguarding Adult Board (SAB) and / or Local Safeguarding Children Partnership (SCP) is also involved where appropriate.

What we publish

When completed, we'll publish an executive summary and overview report. You can also view other resources (like briefing documents or training sessions).

Useful resources

The Home Office has published a range of useful resources about DHRs, including leaflets for family, friends and employers.

The home office are also in the process of uploading all published DHR’s centrally.

Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AFFDA) provides emotional, practical and specialist peer support to those left behind after domestic homicide, as well as advice and training to professionals.

More information

For more information, send an email to VAWG.unit@brighton-hove.gov.uk.