Improvements in recognition of suicide-domestic abuse link

In its annual report, the Domestic Homicide Project has recorded 1,452 deaths linked to domestic abuse over a five-year period, and 347 deaths in the year to March 2025. This is an increase of 85 deaths from the previous year, of which most are suspected suicides following domestic abuse (SVSDA).

The increase reflects improved awareness and recording of suicides after a change in practice last year that requires officers to check for a history of domestic abuse at the scene of suicides and unexpected deaths.

Data recorded by the project also shows an increase in investigations and charges related to domestic abuse after the victim’s death. Across the five-year dataset, 17 cases of SVSDA successfully achieved a posthumous charge for domestic abuse related offences, with three of these simultaneously pursuing further investigations for unlawful manslaughter.

At the time of analysis there were at least seven ongoing investigations into additional cases, a number that is expected to rise.

This year’s data

The annual report tracks the scale and nature of domestic abuse-related deaths in quick-time, both from the previous year and across a five-year period, and is the only dataset of its kind in England and Wales.

In the year to March 2025, the Project recorded:

• 150 suspected suicides following domestic abuse (suspected suicide of a person following known domestic abuse against them)
• 80 intimate partner homicides (homicide of an individual by a current or former intimate partner)
• 45 adult family homicides (homicide of an individual aged 18 or over by an adult family member)
• 43 unexpected deaths (death of a person any age with a history of domestic abuse that is under investigation but not (yet) deemed a homicide, suspected suicide or non-suspicious death)
• 17 child deaths (homicide of a child aged under 18 by a family member or family member’s partner)
• 12 deaths classified as ‘other’ (where the relationship is not intimate partner or familial but the victim and suspect live together, e.g., lodger or flatmate)

Five year dataset

Analysis of data across a five-year period has identified patterns in risk factors and victim and suspect demographics that can help to target agency intervention and prevent future deaths.

Across the five-year dataset, 1,452 deaths have been recorded, and of those:

• Most victims (73%) were female, and primarily aged between 25 to 54 years old (60%).
• Notably, the majority of AFH victims were older, with 40% of them being aged 65 years or older.
• In contrast, SVSDA victims were younger, most commonly aged 25 to 44 years old (59%).
• Suspects were predominantly male (79%), with 69% of them aged between 25 and 54 years.

Across the five-year dataset, of 1,554 suspects, the most commonly identified risk factors were:

1. Any mental ill health (44%)
2. A history of coercive and controlling behaviour (42%)
3. Alcohol use (35%)
4. Drug use (32%)

The vast majority of victims and suspects were known to policing and other agencies, including mental health services.

Improvements in the police response

Past recommendations by the Project have prompted police forces to proactively review new and closed investigations into cases of SVSDA, leading to improvements in some forces including:

• Daily reviews of unexpected deaths and Domestic Homicide Reviews to re-open criminal investigations where there may be missed opportunities.
• Early escalation of cases to specialist investigative teams to pursue posthumous prosecutions.
• Improved training of domestic abuse-related suicide risk, including coercive control and abuse post-separation.
• Strengthening data sharing with social care, mental health and wider partners through adult safeguarding hubs and shared data systems.

More broadly, forces are also strengthening referral pathways to mental health and substance misuse services to help address issues that can exacerbate abusive behaviour.

Next steps

This year marks the first case of suspected suicide following teenage relationship abuse formally recorded in the dataset, whereby both the victim and suspect were under the age of 18. The statutory definition of domestic abuse excludes teenage relationships, meaning that the true scale and prevalence of domestic abuse-related deaths linked to teenage relationship abuse are not recorded.

This year’s report recommends that deaths of under 16s that are linked to domestic abuse are formally identified and recorded.

The report also calls for updated police practice around safeguarding referrals for children and young people experiencing relationship abuse.

Other key recommendations include:

• Maximising the use of legislation around coercive and controlling behaviour to bring more perpetrators to justice.
• Ensuring consistent and standardised information sharing between police and coroners to identify any history of domestic abuse that may be relevant to an inquest.

Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, national policing lead for domestic abuse, said: “This report reflects important progress in how policing is identifying risk and pursuing justice in new ways.

“But these findings are also a stark reminder that for too many victims, abuse was ongoing and already known before their death. We continue to see offenders deliberately targeting people who are vulnerable and using those vulnerabilities to maintain control and evade justice.

“Policing, alongside all other agencies, must recognise this and do everything possible to stop abusive behaviour, bring offenders to justice and better protect victims.

“I want to thank the families who continue to share their experiences and work with us to drive change, I am incredibly grateful for their courage and honesty.”

CEO of Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse, Frank Mullane, said: “For five years, AAFDA has been bringing families to meet police chiefs to share the weaknesses in police investigations. It has been heart warming to see those chiefs take this so seriously and do something about it.

“There are some excellent police investigations after suicides which followed domestic abuse, but there are poor ones too. Justice is scuppered without a professional and substantial police investigation.

“For years, no statutory agencies were considering suicides and deaths from neglect as stemming from domestic abuse. Now, we have the hard evidence that domestic abuse leads to suicide.

“That should be a wakeup call to all senior leaders to ensure their staff are equipped to make meaningful interventions which save lives.”

Kate Brown, National Domestic Abuse Lead for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Any death linked to domestic abuse is a devastating, inexcusable loss of life and securing justice for those victims is paramount.

“Our prosecutors are trained to understand the complex and evolving nature of domestic abuse, and we work closely with police to examine patterns of behaviour so charges reflect the full picture.

“We know more than ever about the appalling impact of domestic abuse. We are determined to support victims’ families in getting justice and bringing offenders to account.”