Category Archives: Domestic Violence

Domestic Abuse Commissioner responds to the conclusion of the early release scheme review

Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, said: “The decision to not exclude domestic abuse perpetrators from this scheme is wrong and puts victims lives at risk.

“As I told the Lord Chancellor just last week, the danger perpetrators pose to their victim should not be underestimated. These are individuals who are fixated on their victim and will stop at nothing to control and cause harm.

“While ministers have rightly recognised the need to improve communication with victims impacted and given a welcome injection of funding to specialist services, measures that will keep domestic abuse victims safe still appear to be an afterthought.

“It is critical that no abuser is released in October unless I am confident that victims’ safety is not being compromised. This means gathering information about the risk perpetrators pose to victims as part of a thorough risk assessment before they leave prison and providing probation the resources they need to manage more offenders rigorously in the community.

“I will continue to work with ministers to ensure victims and survivors of domestic abuse do not continue to bear the brunt of this crisis.”

Notes

  • When the Labour government – under Keir Starmer – introduced the Standard Determinate Sentence 40% (SDS40) early release scheme to alleviate the prison capacity crisis it included specific protections for victims of domestic abuse.
  • This included exempting offenders serving sentences for sex offences irrespective of sentence length; serious violent offences with a sentence of four years or more; specified offences linked to domestic abuse irrespective of sentence length (including stalking, coercive or controlling behaviour and non-fatal strangulation); as well as offences concerning national security.
  • During the passage of the Sentencing Act 2026 these protections were not carried forward meaning these offenders will now be released early.
  • Government figures show that prison recalls in England and Wales have increased to over 51,000 per year, with most recalls resulting from breaches of licence conditions, up 28% on the previous 12 months.
  • Domestic abuse perpetrators are often released with license conditions which can include not contacting their victim or visiting certain areas, however they are known to frequently breach these conditions to carry out their campaign of abuse. Additional measures included in the Sentencing Act mean that the vast majority of offenders recalled to prison will now be re-released automatically after 56 days (around eight weeks). A breach of license condition against their victim will not prevent a perpetrator from being automatically re-released.
  • Research into domestic homicide reviews found that over half of all victims who die at the hands of a partner or family member were subject to coercive control in the lead up to their death. Offenders convicted of coercive control are now set to be released early.
  • Non-fatal strangulation is one of the strongest indicators of high-risk, potentially lethal domestic abuse behaviour. IFAS analysed 396 published Domestic Homicide Reviews and identified 74 cases with a history of non-fatal strangulation (NFS). In 49% of the DHRs with a history of non-fatal strangulation, the perpetrator of the non-fatal strangulation went on to kill the same victim.
  • Recent figures suggest around 30% of people being managed by probation are current or former perpetrators of domestic abuse, although the true figure is likely to be higher.

https://www.domesticabusecommissioner.uk/domestic-abuse-commissioner-responds-to-the-conclusion-of-the-early-release-scheme-review/

August 26, 2026

Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s annual report: 2024 to 2025 – Home Office

This has been a significant year for my office. As I reflect on the work we have undertaken, I am struck both by how much we have achieved and by how much we still need to do to ensure every survivor of domestic abuse receives the protection, support and justice they deserve.

At the heart of everything we do are the people this office exists to serve. This year, we heard directly from nearly 700 survivors about their experience of the criminal justice system, engaged with over 100 children and young people with lived experience of domestic abuse, and provided guidance to nearly 400 people who wrote to my office seeking help and support. These are not statistics – they are people whose courage and determination continues to shape everything I do.

A particular highlight of this year was our first Survivor Summit, which brought together 25 survivors to speak directly to ministers and senior officials about the changes they want to see. That 89% of attendees felt heard by government tells me that this kind of engagement matters enormously. It must continue – and it must translate into action.

The publication of Shifting the Scales in January 2025 marked an important milestone in my work to improve the criminal justice system’s response to domestic abuse.

Examining the system from end to end, the report exposed serious failings – including the deeply troubling finding that only 4% of alleged domestic abuse perpetrators are dismissed from the police force. I made 12 recommendations to government, and I am encouraged that six have already seen meaningful progress. I will continue to press for action on the remaining six with determination.

This year also required my office to respond rapidly to emerging pressures. When the UK government announced emergency measures to ease the prison capacity crisis, my office acted swiftly to call for the exclusion of domestic abuse perpetrators – and I am pleased that pressure secured an important protection. Vigilance of this kind is critical if we are to ensure government delivers for victims, and I will not hesitate to use my voice when survivors’ safety is at risk.

We have seen progress on safeguarding migrant survivors, recognising children as victims, and strengthening the family justice response. But lasting change requires sustained political commitment, adequate resources and strong cross departmental collaboration.

The government’s ambition to halve violence against women and girls within a decade is bold and right. My office stands ready to support that mission by holding ministers to account, amplifying survivor voices and driving the systemic changes they so urgently need to see. The work continues.

Dame Nicole Jacobs
Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales

Available to read online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-commissioners-annual-report-2024-to-2025/domestic-abuse-commissioners-annual-report-2024-to-2025-accessible

July 27, 2026

Lack of funding to learn from domestic abuse related deaths “deeply concerning” – Domestic Abuse Commissioner

On 27 May 2026, the UK Government has issued its formal response to the Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s report into how learnings from Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) – an independent review conducted when someone over 16 loses their life because of violence, abuse or neglect – are acted on both nationally and locally.

The report made several proposals to government on how it could improve the independent oversight of recommendations stemming from DHRs to better implement learnings, so these tragic deaths do not happen again. The Commissioner also called for dedicated funding to be made available to councils to deliver the growing number of DHRs they are needing to conduct.

The Commissioner was pleased to see the government reiterate its intention to develop a digital oversight tool to ensure recommendations are captured – an intervention announced in early March by the then Safeguarding Minister, Jess Phillips.

However, she has expressed frustration that the official response does not provide any further update on what funding will be made available to deliver the tool, a timeline for its rollout, or how it will improve accountability for government departments and wider agencies on implementing recommendations made to them.

She also said she is “deeply concerned” that the government has outright rejected her call to provide dedicated funding to councils to help them deliver DHRs.

Since 2011, local councils have been mandated to conduct domestic homicide reviews – which the Domestic Abuse Commissioner and the Local Government Association estimate cost an average of £10,000 –  yet no funding has ever been allocated for Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) – a group of agencies responsible for assessing and addressing local safety issues – to do so.

In 2016, DHRs were then broadened in scope to include domestic-abuse-related suicides and again no additional funding arrangements were made. This change, welcomed by the Commissioner, has led to an increase in the number of deaths meeting the criteria for a review.

The growing rate of DHRs councils must oversee has also come against the backdrop of local authorities’ budgets being cut or frozen. This is leaving local councils with ever dwindling resources which they must also use to fund public services.

Without dedicated funding, local areas have told the Domestic Abuse Commissioner that they will struggle to deliver these potentially life-saving reviews in the future. This risks creating a postcode lottery, with review decisions being made on financial grounds and opportunities missed to take learnings forward.

While the response acknowledges the pressures faced by councils and indicates that updated statutory guidance will help improve the effectiveness of delivery, there is no timeline for when this will be published, despite the public consultation to improve the statutory guidance being launched more than two years ago.

The government has an ambitious target to halve violence against women and girls within a decade and centres reducing female domestic homicide as key to achieving this.  The Commissioner is urging the government to be “bolder and braver” in its decisions to speed up delivery for people subject to domestic abuse, and ensure vital lessons are not lost.

Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, said:

“When someone loses their life to domestic abuse, we should be doing all we can to learn from this tragedy and ensure it never happens again.

“While I’m pleased to see the government reaffirm its commitment to deliver a digital oversight tool, the lack of dedicated funding to ensure councils can conduct these potentially life-saving reviews is deeply concerning – particularly when councils are telling me they will struggle to commission them if further resource isn’t found.

“In the last few weeks, this government has been accused of delivering incremental change for victims and survivors of abuse. If it wants to achieve its mission and be a world leader in tackling VAWG it must be braver and bolder in its decisions.

“Ministers must reconsider this response and make dedicated funding available to ensure DHRs can be effectively conducted. This will not just deliver genuine improvements for people subject to domestic abuse, it will ultimately save lives.

“I want to once again thank the areas that, in spite of funding challenges, gave their time, expertise and commitment to piloting the oversight mechanism.”

Notes:

  1. Read the Commissioner’s full Learning from Loss report. You can also see a full appendix of national DHR recommendations by government department.
  2. Average DHR costs calculated from the Commissioner’s 2024 survey, conducted in partnership with the Local Government Association.
  3. The government’s VAWG Strategy has sent the number of female homicides as a sub-headline metric of its success in achieving its aims. The first pillar of the Strategy focuses on the prevention of VAWG and early intervention for victims and survivors. DHRs provide a wealth of knowledge in achieving both.

https://www.domesticabusecommissioner.uk/lack-of-funding-domestic-abuse-related-death-review/

 

June 5, 2026

Domestic abusers to be evicted under new landmark housing law – Ministry of Housing

Landlords get new powers to evict domestic abuse perpetrators from social homes

Abusers will be evicted from social homes and victims will be able to stay safely in their communities, under a new landmark Social Housing Bill returning to Parliament for its Second Reading today (Monday 1 June).

Under new protections, landlords and courts will be able to evict perpetrators of domestic abuse from social housing – without the victim having to leave first.

Currently, landlords can only evict a perpetrator after the victim has already left the home, and in joint tenancies, the only option for the victim is to end the tenancy entirely – potentially leaving them homeless.

The Bill also closes a loophole that let abusers serve a Notice to Quit to make victims homeless. Under the proposed new law, a Notice to Quit served by a perpetrator will not end the social housing joint tenancy while court proceedings are ongoing.

In addition, for joint tenancies, courts will be able to transfer the tenancy into the victim’s sole name, or where staying is not appropriate, require the landlord to provide suitable alternative accommodation where available.

Last year, around 15,000 households in England were forced to find a new social home because of domestic abuse. This Bill means victims can stay safely in their homes and communities, close to support networks, schools, and work.

The news follows the swift introduction of the Bill earlier this month, which also includes the biggest overhaul of Right to Buy in a generation to reverse the decline of social housing.

Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs said:

“Sharing a social home with a perpetrator presents victims and survivors of domestic abuse with an impossible choice. Remaining in their home means facing further abuse but leaving could put them at risk of homelessness and struggling financially.

“Alongside survivors and campaigners, I have been calling for action to be taken to stop perpetrators from weaponising joint tenancies – and I’m pleased to see that the government has listened.

“People experiencing domestic abuse need safety and stability in order to recover and rebuild free from harm. This will be an important step towards that for many.”

Head of Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance, Nicki Clarke said:

“The Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) welcomes the Government’s tenancy reforms proposed within the Social Housing Bill. These changes represent an important and long overdue step forward, with the potential to transform the lives of many domestic abuse victims.

“Domestic abuse typically takes place in the home and it is where most women are killed. By enabling landlords to safeguard victims and hold the perpetrators of abuse to account, these reforms will enable domestic abuse victims, including children, to achieve safety, stability and long-term housing security. This is essential for all individuals impacted by domestic abuse to rebuild their independence and move forward with lives free from harm.

“We look forward to working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support the development and implementation of these measures, and to ensure that the detail of the reforms delivers meaningful, practical outcomes for those affected.”

Head of External Affairs at Women’s Aid, Veronica Oakeshott said:

“Today, the Social Housing Bill has received its second reading, and we are pleased to see that it contains measures to protect some survivors of domestic abuse in joint tenancies, which Women’s Aid, along with sector colleagues, have long campaigned on.

“For too long, survivors have been faced with impossible choices – either staying with their abusers or risking homelessness – all because of outdated practices. The measures introduced in this Bill begin to change that picture by enabling social landlords to transfer a tenancy to a survivor in certain circumstances or, where needed, evict perpetrators and prevent them from unilaterally ending a tenancy. While ultimately we hope the measures will go further to enable more survivors to qualify, this is an important start.”

Further information

Under the Bill, a Notice to Quit served by a perpetrator in a social housing joint tenancy will not take effect where a notice under the domestic abuse grounds is in force, or during ongoing court or eviction proceedings, preventing the misuse of such notices to force tenants out of their homes.

Extracts from a longer press release at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/domestic-abusers-to-be-evicted-under-new-landmark-housing-law

June 5, 2026

Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides 2020-2025 Report – Domestic Homicide Project

The fifth annual report from the national Domestic Homicide Project, which works across England and Wales, was published in April 2026. The report examines domestic abuse related deaths identified by police to improve understanding of risk indicators, victim and perpetrator demographics. The unique dataset provides detailed information on these deaths not available from any other source, helping police and partners improve their response to domestic abuse, domestic homicide and suspected victim suicide following domestic abuse.

The National Domestic Homicide Project is a Home Office funded research project led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and delivered by the National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection (NCVPP) within the College of Policing.

As well as providing detailed analysis of domestic abuse-related deaths, the project also works with bereaved families of victims, who continue to be a key driver for change across the criminal justice system.

Key findings from the Year 5 report:

347 deaths were recorded between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025:

  • 150 suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse (SVSDA)
  • 125 domestic homicides, including:
    • 80 intimate partner homicides (IPH)
    • 45 adult family homicides (AFH)
  • 43 unexpected deaths
  • 17 child deaths
  • 12 ‘other’ deaths (where the victim and suspect lived together but were not related or intimate partners)

Across the five-year period (1 April 2020 – 31 March 2025), 1,452 domestic abuse-related deaths were recorded:

  • 641 domestic homicides (44%)
  • 553 suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse (38%)
  • 131 unexpected deaths (9%)
  • 86 child deaths (6%)
  • 41 ‘other’ deaths (3%)

For the third year in a row, suspected victim suicides following domestic abuse have overtaken other categories to become the most commonly recorded type of death. This reflects increased awareness and progress in identifying the links between domestic abuse and suicide.

Across the dataset, the majority of victims were female (73%) and most suspects were male (79%). In cases involving intimate partners, the most common scenario remained a female victim and male suspect.

In 88% of suspected victim suicide cases, there was a known history of domestic abuse recorded by police prior to the victim’s death, highlighting opportunities for earlier intervention.

Mental health was the most commonly identified care need for both victims and suspects, and coercive and controlling behaviour remained a key risk factor across multiple types of domestic abuse-related deaths.

In 70% of cases, the victim and/or suspect was known to partner agencies, reinforcing the importance of multi-agency working and information sharing.

https://www.vkpp.org.uk/vkpp-work/domestic-homicide-project/

 

May 13, 2026