Information sharing 'vital' as domestic abuse-related suicides surpass homicides

A coordinated, multi-agency response is essential to prevent deaths linked to domestic abuse, according to the latest findings from the Domestic Homicide Project, which reveal that suspected suicides following abuse have overtaken intimate partner killings for the second consecutive year.

The report, published today, recorded 262 domestic abuse-related deaths in England and Wales between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024. It highlights the growing recognition of the link between domestic abuse and suicide, alongside persistent systemic gaps in identifying and responding to risk.

Of the total deaths, 98 were classified as suspected suicides following domestic abuse (SVSDA), compared with 80 intimate partner homicides, 39 adult family homicides, 28 unexpected deaths, 11 child deaths and six other cases involving cohabiting individuals.

Over a four-year period, the project has documented more than 1,000 domestic abuse-related deaths, reinforcing the scale and complexity of the issue. Notably, 68% of victims and/or perpetrators were known to at least one agency, rising to nine in ten cases involving suspected suicide.

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, national policing lead for domestic abuse, said:
“The sustained nature of domestic homicide shows how deeply ingrained violence against women and girls is in our communities.

“The Domestic Homicide Project has now recorded over 1000 domestic abuse-related deaths across a four year period. The scale and impact is incomprehensible and as a society, we cannot delay action to prevent future deaths.”

The report underscores the importance of collaboration between policing, healthcare, social services and other partners. Mental ill health, coercive and controlling behaviour, and substance misuse were among the most common risk factors identified across cases—factors often visible to non-policing services.

Rolfe added: “The data reinforces the critical need for policing to work with other agencies to identify those at risk of being both a perpetrator or a victim of domestic abuse. A preventative approach is the only way to stop the widespread harm of domestic abuse in all its forms.”

The findings also highlight specific concerns around deaths involving falls from height. Across 22 such cases examined over four years, more than a third were classified as suspected suicides, with others recorded as unexpected deaths or homicides. Three victims were pregnant at the time of their death.

In response to previous recommendations, police forces have introduced changes aimed at improving identification and investigation of domestic abuse-related deaths. These include updated policies on unexpected deaths, prompting officers to check for histories of domestic abuse and coercive control, and enhanced training on the link between abuse and suicide.

There has also been an increase in cases of suspected suicide being referred for Domestic Homicide Reviews, alongside more frequent posthumous charges for domestic abuse offences.

Rolfe said: “We have a much better understanding of the complex nature of domestic abuse than ever before, but there is more for policing to do to ensure that every domestic-abuse related death is properly recognised, and where appropriate, adequately investigated.

“54% of suspects of domestic homicide were previously known to police as perpetrators of domestic abuse, highlighting the importance of a prompt, robust police response from the outset of a report. That is why the broader police response to domestic abuse is focused on driving improvements and consistency in offender management and better protection for victims.”

Innovations such as video response technology and the rollout of Raneem’s Law – embedding specialist domestic abuse support in police contact centres – are also being piloted to improve victim outcomes.

Campaigners and families bereaved by domestic abuse continue to play a central role in shaping the project’s work. Killed Women Network contributed to new research examining deaths involving falls from height.

Julie Devey, Chair of Killed Women, said: "Every life lost following domestic abuse leaves behind a family heartbroken. For too long, these deaths have been treated as ‘unavoidable tragedies’ - but they are not. They are preventable. Today’s important report reflects that too often perpetrators or victims are known to agencies, but they fail to act. We must ensure a system that joins the dots and intervenes before it’s too late.

“We also welcome the report findings which make clear what we have long said: women are dying in suspicious circumstances - for example from falls - or from suicide, where there is a history of domestic abuse, without adequate investigation. We welcome the recommendation which compels police, in all cases of unexpected deaths, to investigate the history of domestic abuse. If the government is serious about ending violence against women, these recommendations should be enforced.’’

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips said the findings highlight the need for coordinated national action:
"Every death related to domestic abuse is a life cut short and a devastating tragedy. The better we understand the links between domestic abuse and homicides, suicides and unexpected deaths, the better equipped we are to prevent them from happening in the first place. That’s why the government has funded this vital research to shine a light on the scale of the problem.

“This report rightly demands coordinated action across government, police and partner agencies to tackle these issues head on – and we are already cracking on with work to put the voices of victims, their families and friends, and key stakeholders front and centre of this. Our upcoming violence against women and girls strategy will set out our ambition and concrete actions to strengthen our response to perpetrators and deliver on our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”

The report concludes with a renewed call for improved data sharing and earlier intervention across services, particularly for young people, alongside continued reforms to how suspected suicides linked to domestic abuse are investigated and prosecuted.