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

Durham review

CSP: Durham Published: April 2023 Extracted: 9 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 a lack of professional awareness and appropriate policies regarding older victims of domestic abuse, leading to underestimation of risk. It also highlighted issues with the use of restorative justice in domestic abuse cases and the quality of probation supervision focusing on victim safety.

Extracted recommendations

9 recommendations pulled from the report

#	Recommendation	Addressed to
13.1	A system needs to be established to ensure training opportunities are brought to the attention of staff working in General Practices	Clinical Commissioning Group
13.2	A domestic abuse policy to be developed as a partner to the existing domestic abuse and safeguarding children policy. This policy will also include guidance on information sharing, the use of read codes to facilitate this and the requirement that all departments / practices identify a person to take a lead on domestic abuse.	Clinical Commissioning Group
13.3	Given the limited appointment times within which GPs work they would benefit from a short guide which would prompt them on actions to take and information to give to the patient.	Clinical Commissioning Group
13.4	To fully implement the new policy guidance on restorative justice and domestic abuse i.e. • Under no circumstances should restorative justice principles be applied to the initial attendance at any domestic violence incidents. • Positive action must be taken i.e. the arrest of the perpetrator and the recovery of evidence as per the domestic violence policy. • Restorative justice disposal may only be considered as a resolution to such incidents only after positive action has been taken in the first instance and only with the expressed permission of (named staff) who must be consulted with first.	Durham Constabulary
13.5	Neither the force DA policy and standard operating procedures, nor the advice given by CAADA in relation to the application of the DASH model makes any allowance for consideration of the victim’s age as a factor related to risk. The recommendation is therefore that a review is carried out and that all policies procedures and training in relation to domestic abuse are reviewed to give consideration to age as a risk factor in domestic abuse/homicide	Durham Constabulary
13.6	Review procedures that are in place to ensure that supervising officers have proper regard for the safety and well being of victims of domestic abuse perpetrators.	DTVPT
13.7	Identify and implement processes to improve the overall quality of supervision particularly in regard to the development of an investigative approach and the tendency to accept offenders versions of events without proper challenge.	DTVPT
13.8	To review all existing policies and procedures, as they become due for review to ensure they are sensitive to the special risks to and needs of older women who are victims.	All Agencies
13.9	To ensure that all future policies, publicity campaigns and other planned activities in relation to abuse are sensitive to the requirements of older victims and the risks posed by older perpetrators.	All Agencies
Recommendations extracted from the published report. Source: Home Office DHR Library. View full report ↗