Domestic homicide reviews

A domestic homicide is defined as someone, aged 16 and above, whose death has or appears to have been the result of violence, abuse or neglect by a person:

• related to them
• in an intimate personal relationship with them
• in their household

A domestic homicide review is a review into the circumstances around the death.

If a victim took their own life (suicide) and there is concern around the circumstances, a review will also take place. For example, if there was controlling or coercive behaviour in the relationship.

Each review aims to highlight ways of improving responses to domestic abuse and to prevent further deaths.

The review will:

• look at the way in which professionals and organisations work alone and together to keep victims safe
• establish what lessons can be learned, both within and between agencies
• identify how the lessons will be acted on and how long that will take
• identify what should change as a result
• apply the lessons to service responses - including changes to policies and procedures
• improve how services respond to all domestic violence victims and their children
• improve how the different agencies work alone and together

An independent person is commissioned to:

• chair the review
• write the overview report
• help formulate an action plan

The Home Office quality assures the report before it's published. 

Role of the Community Safety Partnership

Our Community Safety Partnership is responsible for commissioning domestic homicide reviews under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

Bracknell Forest reviews

You can view existing Bracknell Forest reviews in the documents below.