About this page. This page summarises a Domestic Homicide Review published in the Home Office DHR Library. The full report is available at the source link below. Victim and perpetrator names are not included in extracted summaries on this page.
Source · Domestic Homicide Review
Somerset review
CSP: SomersetPublished: April 2023Year of death: 2020Extracted: 13 recs
Statutory domestic homicide review under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. Source: Home Office DHR Library.
The review highlights inconsistent agency responses to older victims of domestic abuse, including issues with risk assessment, multi-agency coordination, and understanding of coercive control and perpetrator behaviour. Concerns also exist regarding professional language and the distinction between safeguarding and domestic abuse.
Home Office classifications
29 tags
Source-supplied classifications used by the Home Office to catalogue this review.
Victim - serious or life limiting illness
Victim - had been a victim of an abuser before
Victim - referred to marac at any time
Victim - case heard at marac before homicide
Children - living with victim (including adult children)
Children - living with perpetrator (including adult children)
Child - primary address same as victim
Perpetrator - mental ill health
Perpetrator - cognitive disorder (dementia or alzheimer's disease)
Perpetrator - known to agencies as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Perpetrator - known to police as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Perpetrator - known to social services as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Perpetrator - known to health services as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Perpetrator - known to idva or other domestic abuse support service as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Perpetrator - known to others as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Perpetrator - known to family as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Aggravating factors - sexual abuse
Aggravating factors - psychological or emotional abuse
Aggravating factors - physical abuse
Aggravating factors - economic abuse
DHR process - police recommendations
DHR process - social services recommendations
DHR process - health services recommendations
DHR process - community safety partnership recommendations
DHR process - identification of risk recommendation themes
DHR process - training recommendation themes
DHR process - multi agency working recommendation themes
DHR process - awareness raising recommendation themes
DHR process - other recommendation themes
Extracted recommendations
13 recommendations pulled from the report · 7 matched to organisations in the index
Addressed to
Safer Somerset Partnership | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT
Safer Somerset Partnership to seek assurance / ask agencies involved in this review to confirm how they respond to disclosures of or suspected domestic abuse involving older people. This is to include assurance that the domestic abuse pathways are adhered to.
Addressed to
Safer Somerset Partnership | Safeguarding Adults Board | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT
Safer Somerset Partnership / Safeguarding Adults Board to ensure training and awareness includes consideration of language and necessity not to blame the victim.
Addressed to
Safer Somerset Partnership | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT
Improve professionals’ skills in using their judgement to assess risk, and not relying on actuarial assessments which can disadvantage cases involving older people. Also to complete DASH assessments irrespective of consent.
Addressed to
SCC Public Health | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT
Upskill all professionals within agencies involved so they know how to assess and respond to people in long-term abusive relationships. SSP to gain assurance as to how information is disseminated within these agencies and that agencies have effectively upskilled staff.
Review Panel Chair to seek assurance that police understand domestic abuse perpetrator behaviour (following comment made after death by a police officer)
Addressed to
SCC Public Health | Adult Social Care | A&S Police | CCG | SIDAS | Somerset NHSFT
Improve professional’s awareness of older people and domestic abuse/sexual violence and how to respond. This is to include coercive and controlling behaviour. Also, share new materials with agencies involved and gain assurance as to how information is disseminated within their agencies.
Addressed to
Safer Somerset Partnership | SCC Public Health
Determine if the MARMM should be adopted in Somerset. Or whether the Somerset Safeguarding Adult Board’s existing “What to do if it’s not safeguarding” guidance is sufficient.