Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) were established on a statutory basis under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and came into force on 13 April 2011.
Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are responsible for undertaking DHRs where the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse, or neglect by -
- a relative
- a household member
- someone he or she has been in an intimate relationship with
A review panel, led by an independent chair and consisting of representatives from statutory and voluntary agencies is commissioned to undertake the DHR. The panel reviews each agency's involvement in the case and makes recommendations to improve responses in the future. The panel also consider information from the victim's -
- family
- friends
- work colleagues
DHRs are not enquiries into how someone died or who is to blame or whether they form part of a disciplinary process. They do not replace, but are in addition to, an inquest and any other form of enquiry into a homicide.
Purpose of DHR is to consider the circumstances that led to the death and to identify where responses to the situation could be improved in the future. Lessons learned from the reviews help agencies to improve their response to domestic abuse and to work better together to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
The Home Office has published statutory guidance on how to complete DHRs.
The Home Office has also published a report on common themes identified as lessons to be learned from DHRs.
Hull Community Safety Partnership published reviews can be accessed below -