What happens when someone dies as a result of Domestic Abuse?

When someone dies as a result of domestic violence, a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) has to be carried out. DHRs are established on a statutory basis under Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Adults Act (2004).

Bolton Community Safety Partnership has the responsibility for establishing Domestic Homicide Reviews within Bolton.

DHRs try to ensure that public bodies like social services, councils, police and other community based organisations understand what happened that led to the death but they are not inquiries into how the victim died nor are they conducted to find out who is to blame. The purpose of a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) is to understand whether there are any lessons to be learned and to make recommendations to prevent future homicides.

The Home Office has published guidance which sets out the circumstances under which a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) should be carried out and how professionals should do it.

The link below is a Concise Learning Summary relating to a DHR which was carried out in the Manchester area. Documents relating to the Domestic Homicide Reviews carried out in Bolton can be accessed via the downloads section on this page.