What we do:
The requirement for Community Safety Partnerships to arrange and conduct these reviews became statutory on 13 April 2011.
A Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) means a review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over, has or appears to have resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by:
(a) A person to whom he/she was related or with whom he/she had been in an intimate personal relationship, or
(b) A member of the same household as her/himself
When a domestic homicide occurs the police are required to notify us in writing. Within one month of that notification the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership, in conjunction with local partners, has responsibility for initiating a DHR.
The purpose of the review is to determine whether an organisation’s response could have been improved. Reviews do not seek to lay blame but looks for lessons learned.
DHR’s do not replace but exist in addition to any inquest or other form of enquiry into the homicide.
The focus is totally on “lessons learned” and shared with partner agencies with a view to preventing future homicides and violence.
Progress is overseen by a Home Office Quality Assurance Panel who insist that the action plans are implemented and evaluated and audit trails developed to evidence compliance.