4 in 5 domestic abuse killers were already known to the police

FOUR out of five killers in domestic abuse murders were known to police beforehand, figures reveal.

And suicides of domestic abuse victims have almost doubled in two years, from 51 in 2021 to 93 last year, the Home Office-funded research found.

The report, led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), found there were 242 abuserelated deaths in England and Wales in the year to March 2023.

Of these, 80 victims were killed by their partners, 31 by an adult family member and there were 11 child deaths. In those 12 months, 93 victims of domestic abuse are thought to have taken their own life, compared with 72 the previous year and 51 in 2021.

In all three of these years, 80 per cent of suspects were known to police – the majority for domestic abuse. Lead researchers Dr Katie Hoeger and Dr Lis Bates said: ‘Our report lays bare the scale of deaths following domestic abuse, with at least one victim suicide every four days and a murder by a partner or family member every three days.

‘This demands urgent collective action and not only from police – these victims and perpetrators are known to many other agencies.’

The shocking figures come as police leaders adopt techniques used in counter-terrorism to combat violence against women and girls (VAWG). Last February, then-home secretary Suella Braverman included VAWG within the Strategic Policing Requirement, meaning it should be treated as seriously as terrorism and organised crime.

Forces are applying the ‘4P’ approach used in counterterrorism by proactively pursu

‘Shine a spotlight on these deaths’

ing perpetrators and suspects to prevent further violence.

Dr Hoeger and Dr Bates added: ‘ There is clearly an appetite . . . to do more to prevent domestic homicides and victim suicides. We urge the police to continue to shine a spotlight on these deaths.’

NPCC lead for domestic abuse, assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe, said the research was fundamental in broadening police leaders’ understanding of domestic abuse-related murders and victim suicides.