Domestic abuse
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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.
Where a victim took their own life and the circumstances give rise to concern (e.g. it emerges that there was coercive controlling behaviour in the relationship) a DHR should be undertaken, even if a subject is not charged with an offence or is tried and acquitted.
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
- 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.
Statutory guidance on Domestic Homicide Reviews is available on the Government website.
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 005 | Kettering | Report completed. The DHR Review Panel requested to not publish the report to protect the identity of the children of the deceased. The Home Office approved this request | Initially started by the former Kettering CSP and completed in 2022 by North Northants CSP |
| DHR 006 | Kettering | Report with Home Office | Submitted to Home Office for Quality Assurance approval |
| DHR 007 | Kettering | Report with Home Office | Submitted to Home Office for Quality Assurance approval |
| 01/2020 | Corby | Published: Executive summary report | Initially started by the former Corby CSP and completed in 2024 by North Northants CSP |
| DHR01 | Wellingborough | Published: Executive summary report | Initially started by the former Wellingborough CSP and completed in 2024 by North Northants CSP |
| NNC001 | Kettering | Report with Home Office | Submitted to Home Office for Quality Assurance approval |
| NNC002 | Kettering | DHR in progress | At draft report writing stage and will be presented at a future CSP Board meeting |
| NNC003 | Kettering | DHR in progress | Panel meetings in progress and currently at IMR and draft report writing stage |
| NNC004 | Kettering | Completed in 2025 by North Northants CSP | |
| NNC005 | East Northamptonshire | DHR in progress | Panel meetings in progress, currently at IMR stage |
| NNC006 | Corby | DHR discharged | Home Office Quality Assurance Panel approved to no longer conduct a DHR for this case |
| NNC007 | Wellingborough | DHR in progress | Independent Chair/Author appointed and at initial information gathering stage |
| NNC008 | Corby | DHR in progress | Independent Chair/Author appointed and at initial information gathering stage |
Support available
- Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse provide specialist and expert advocacy and peer support
- GOV.uk has information available to support family and friends
Last updated 07 March 2025