The Home Office has published a report looking at domestic abuse related deaths in England and Wales in 2020/21. Findings include: there were 215 deaths reported to the Domestic Homicides Project between 23 March 2020 and 31 March 2021, a slight increase on the previous year; and 12% of deaths related to children. Recommendations include: police forces should adopt Domestic Abuse Matters training to improve identification of coercive control and patterns of domestic abuse; and police should consider whether domestic abuse may be a contributory factor in cases of unexplained death or suspected suicide, and if so whether any criminal offence has been committed.
Read the report: Domestic homicides and suspected victim suicides during the pandemic
Source: Home Office
Date: 25 August 2021
