Domestic abuse

Domestic Homicide Reviews

Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) came into force in 2011 as a statutory requirement of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004).

A domestic homicide review 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 they were related or with whom they were, or had been, in an intimate personal relationship
    or
  • a member of the same household as themselves, held with a view to identifying the lessons to be learnt from the death.

DHRs are not inquiries into how the person died but to identify the lessons to be learnt to ensure agencies are responding appropriately to those experiencing domestic violence by offering and putting in place

  • appropriate support mechanisms
  • procedures
  • resources
    and
  • interventions.

Overall responsibility for establishing a review rests with the local Community Safety Partnership (CSP). Where the CSP considers that the criteria for a DHR has been met, they will appoint an Independent Chair and establish a DHR Review Panel

An Overview Report will draw conclusions from the information obtained, make recommendations for future action and will be published in order for these lessons to be learned as widely and thoroughly as possible. All agencies involved have a responsibility to identify and disseminate common themes and trends across review reports, and act on any lessons identified to improve practice and safeguard victims.

Current DHRs

Once a DHR has been approved by the Home Office, the Chair will finalise the report, redact it as needed and work with the victim’s family before we can publish it. This can take some time as it’s really important we act sensitively.

Reference

Area

Current status

Position statement

DHR 003

East Northamptonshire

Published: Executive summary report

Completed in 2017 by the former East Northants Community Safety Partnership

DHR 05

Kettering

With Independent Chair or Author

Ready to be published

DHR 06

Kettering

With family

Currently with family for comments before publication

DHR 07

Kettering

With family

Currently with family for comments before publication

01/2020

Corby

Published: Executive summary report

Initially started by the former Corby CSP and completed in 2024 by North Northants CSP

DHR01

Wellingborough

With Independent Chair or Author

Changes following Home Office Quality Assurance (QA) feedback and refreshing action plan

NNC001

Kettering

DHR in progress

Panel meetings in progress, currently at Individual Management Review (IMR)

NNC002

Kettering

DHR in progress

DHR resumed after criminal proceedings concluded. Panel meetings in progress and currently at draft report writing stage

NNC003KetteringDHR in progressDHR resumed after Police investigation concluded. Panel meetings in progress and currently at IMR stage
NNC004KetteringDHR Report with Home OfficeSubmitted to Home Office for Quality Assurance approval
NNC005East Northants / NuneatonDHR in progressPanel meetings in progress, currently at Initial Enquiry Form (IEF) stage
NNC006CorbyDHR on holdIndependent Chair or Author appointed

Last updated 27 March 2024