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

Western Suffolk review

CSP: Western Suffolk Published: May 2023 Year of death: 2017 Extracted: 7 recs

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

Original review (PDF) ↗ Source: Home Office DHR Library

Summary AI-generated

Verify against the full report at the source link

The review identified missed opportunities by health agencies to recognise and respond to long-term domestic abuse, a lack of professional curiosity, and the victim's isolation and fear, which hindered her from seeking support. It also noted past issues with police response and inappropriate media reporting.

Home Office classifications

31 tags

Source-supplied classifications used by the Home Office to catalogue this review.

Victim - alcohol misuse
Victim - mental ill health
Victim - depression
Victim - suicide attempts
Victim - had been a victim of an abuser before
Perpetrator - case heard in court
Perpetrator - issued life sentence
Perpetrator - alcohol misuse
Perpetrator - mental ill health
Perpetrator - suicide attempts
Perpetrator - known to agencies as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Perpetrator - known to police as a domestic abuse perpetrator
Perpetrator - known to health services 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 - separation
Aggravating factors - coercive or controlling behaviour
Aggravating factors - stalking
Aggravating factors - physical stalking
Aggravating factors - psychological or emotional abuse
Aggravating factors - physical abuse
Aggravating factors - economic abuse
DHR process - family contributed to dhr
DHR process - family supported by expert specialist advocate
DHR process - health services recommendations
DHR process - community safety partnership recommendations
DHR process - technology systems 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

7 recommendations pulled from the report · 4 matched to organisations in the index

Recommendation 4.1.1

Addressed to West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group

It is recommended that domestic abuse training for primary care providers covers the importance of asking the question about how things are at home in all health appointments particularly for frequent attenders and that they know what to do when a disclosure is made including appropriate signposting to support services.

Verified wording from the published review · Original review (PDF) ↗

Recommendation 4.1.2

Addressed to West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group

It is recommended that the Clinical Commissioning Group co-ordinate an action to explore the possibilities of flagging on GP records when incidence of domestic violence, (both for victim and perpetrator where there are no children under the age of 18 at home), led to police interventions or acute medical assessment and/or treatment.

Verified wording from the published review · Original review (PDF) ↗

Recommendation 4.1.3

Addressed to West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group

It is recommended that the Clinical Commissioning Group works with partners to explore possibilities of flagging domestic abuse concerns on a partner’s primary care record- where an individual discloses that they are a victim of domestic abuse or they disclose they have displayed domestic abuse related behaviours towards their partner.

Verified wording from the published review · Original review (PDF) ↗

Recommendation 4.1.4

Addressed to West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group

It is recommended that the Clinical Commissioning Group implements the Safeguarding Adults Board Suffolk Safeguarding Adults Framework training for all primary care and healthcare providers across Suffolk and that primary care participate in the Safeguarding Adults Board county wide audit on effectiveness of this.

Verified wording from the published review · Original review (PDF) ↗

Recommendation 4.2.1

Addressed to Suffolk Hospitals

It is recommended that hospital psychiatric liaison assessment, support and advice is accessible when a victim or perpetrator of domestic abuse presents at A&E, particularly following attempted suicide or drug overdose. This is to facilitate access to appropriate services even where an individual is not presenting as mentally unwell.

Verified wording from the published review · Original review (PDF) ↗

Recommendation 4.3.1

Addressed to Western Suffolk Community Safety Partnership

It is recommended that Western Suffolk Community Safety Partnership continues with its efforts to raise awareness about domestic abuse and support that is available. This publicity should seek to particularly target women over 50 years of age.

Verified wording from the published review · Original review (PDF) ↗

Recommendation 4.4.1

Addressed to Suffolk County Council | Community Safety Partnerships

It is recommended that Suffolk County Council, in conjunction with the Community Safety Partnerships, engages with local media to ensure that they are aware of these guidelines and seek to secure a commitment from them to work within these in future reporting.

Verified wording from the published review · Original review (PDF) ↗