Domestic abuse related death reviews
Domestic abuse related death reviews
A Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR), previously called a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR), takes place when a person aged 16 or over has died because of domestic abuse by:
- a member of the same household
- a relative
- someone they had been in an intimate relationship with
DARDRs are a statutory requirement under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and became law on 13 April 2011.
The local Community Safety Partnership is responsible for initiating a review.
Purpose of the Review
The purpose of a DARDR is to understand lessons that can be learnt from domestic abuse-related deaths and to identify and implement local and national learning to better safeguard victims of domestic abuse.
The review helps professionals:
- learn lessons
- change practice to reduce risk to victims
- improve the way agencies work, both individually and together
A DARDR is not about reinvestigating how the victim died or assigning blame.
The review process
The review process involves:
- talking to friends and family members
- interviewing significant people who may have known the victim
- getting information from partners such as the police and criminal justice agencies
The Home Office website explains the purpose and process of these reviews in more detail.
The Action After Fatal Domestic Abuse (AAFDA) website also offers support to anyone personally affected by a domestic abuse-related death.