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

Kent review

CSP: Kent Published: April 2023 Year of death: 2012 Extracted: 13 recs

Statutory domestic homicide review under section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. Source: Home Office DHR Library.

View full report (PDF) ↗ Source: Home Office DHR Library

Summary

The review identified failures in information collation and sharing across agencies, leading to inadequate risk assessments and missed opportunities for intervention. It highlighted insufficient police investigations despite the victim's reluctance, and mental health practitioners not fully exploring domestic abuse indicators, particularly concerning escalating risk and firearms.

Extracted recommendations

13 recommendations pulled from the report

#	Recommendation	Addressed to
6.1	When police officers are dealing with reports of domestic abuse, all relevant information must be recorded on the crime or secondary incident report, which will assist in ensuring a proper risk assessment is made. In particular, relevant information from the Computer Assisted Dispatch (CAD) should also be included on the crime or secondary incident report.	Kent Police
6.10	Following detention and assessment under section 136 of the Mental Health Act, when any indication of domestic abuse is identified by completing KMPT’s risk assessment process, a detailed letter should be sent to the client’s GP advising follow up.	Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT)
6.11	Domestic abuse training is to be provided for GP surgeries, including competencies for all staff. Once the core competencies have been identified, training will be rolled out to all surgery and primary health care staff.	Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
6.12	Domestic abuse training is to be delivered to all Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Board members, including required assurances, governance arrangements and domestic homicide review responsibilities.	Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
6.13	CCGs to expedite the appointment of a named GP for adult safeguarding; the postholder would complete individual management reports on GPs’ practice for domestic homicide reviews.	Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
6.2	When a person, other than the victim, makes an allegation of domestic abuse to the police, then officers must make contact with not only the victim, but also the individual making the allegation to develop the whole picture. Officers should be reminded of their responsibility to achieve a proper standard of investigation and to ensure that appropriate evidence is captured from key witnesses, paying particular attention to interviewing family and friends.	Kent Police
6.3	Police officers and staff should be reminded that, following a report of domestic abuse involving a member of Kent Police (either as a perpetrator or victim), the Professional Standards Department should be informed, usually via a locally based supervisor of the rank of inspector or above.	Kent Police
6.4	Kent Police policy to be amended to direct that officers taking reports of domestic abuse perpetrated by a serving police officer/staff, or retired police officer/staff, should consider referring the victim to an independent domestic violence adviser (IDVA) or domestic abuse support worker.	Kent Police
6.5	When an alleged perpetrator of domestic abuse is also the holder of a shotgun or firearms certificate, Kent Police should ensure that a risk assessment in relation to the possession of firearms by suspected perpetrators takes place, and, in such cases, consideration should be given to removal of any firearms as a matter of urgency.	Kent Police
6.6	The planned review by Kent Police of the police central referral unit (CRU) should consider the capacity of the unit to carry out effective assessments of crime and secondary incident reports of domestic abuse graded as ‘standard’ risk. The review should also consider whether the assessment of such cases should be the responsibility of divisional supervisors rather than the CRU.	Kent Police
6.7	When a person is detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act resulting from circumstances which may directly or indirectly relate to domestic abuse, Kent Police should record the details on a secondary incident form.	Kent Police
6.8	When KMPT staff receive information that could indicate that a patient is a possible perpetrator of domestic abuse, they should seek further specialist advice about the most appropriate action to take. Evidence of this consultation and decision making must be recorded.	Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT)
6.9	When KMPT frontline practitioners identify that a client may be a perpetrator of domestic abuse, they will ensure that this is clearly identified on the KMPT risk assessment. Concerns will be discussed within supervision and multi-disciplinary team meetings.	Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT)
Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗