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Original poster

All domestic abuse deaths to be reviewed

31 replies

AyeRobot · 13/04/2011 10:28

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13058300

"Every domestic abuse death is to be automatically reviewed in England and Wales in an effort to make sure lessons about violence in the home are learned.

Mandatory case reviews will now be carried out by all involved agencies, including police and health services.

It follows comments from Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer that teenage women are most at risk of abuse and more must be done to tackle it."

Fingers crossed.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 13/04/2011 10:32

That's fantastic. I really hope it goes ahead. I expect many will be shocked by the findings.

StayFrosty · 13/04/2011 10:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mamazonhereggsclucking · 13/04/2011 10:40

that is excellent news.
I would hope that the findings of these cases will help bring about changes in the law to help women before they are killed.

InmaculadaConcepcion · 13/04/2011 10:40

Good. It's shocking how little importance has been attached to this issue in the past compared with other crimes.

When I worked in the media, a check call to the police press office about a suspicious death in a house would often result in the dismissive reply: "It's a domestic." whereupon we would get nothing further from the police (although, tbf, there were also contempt of court issues involved here - once they've got the perpetrator, they have to be careful about prejudicing the subsequent court case...plus they had no need to give the media anything further because they didn't require help from the public to find witnesses etc. in many cases as they already knew who the offender was - unless they'd tried to make a run for it).

By the same token, news editors would also lose interest in the case.

Unrulysun · 13/04/2011 10:56

Yes IC but I think you're right to feel it's dismissive. It's really 'if there's a random killer out there he might get me but if it's a domestic that only happens to poor people/stupid people/people with poor judgement etc etc not people like me so I don't give a shit.' :(

InmaculadaConcepcion · 13/04/2011 10:59

Yes, Unrulysun, I think there's a large element of that.

Also, they are depressingly common, hence why the media doesn't get over-excited about "domestic" crimes.

Just the category is rather dismissive, isn't it? Violent crimes committed in the home would be closer to the truth.

Unrulysun · 13/04/2011 11:04

And actually the betrayal of trust is so much greater.

This happens to someone I am very close to :( he poured lighter fluid on her and set fire to her last year :( he got two years suspended and she testified for him :( they're still together :( :( :(

garlicbutter · 13/04/2011 11:27

OMG, Unrulysun. And she testified for him? Heck.

Nice to hear some good news, AR, thanks! Hope it gains momentum :)

Original poster
AyeRobot · 13/04/2011 11:33

Sad story. And agree totally on the breach of trust element. It seems that the justice system downplays the seriousness because of the violence occurs within a relationship. What was her testimony? (broadly speaking)

If someone threw lighter fluid over me and set me on fire when I went into town later today, would the perpetrator get a suspended sentence, do you think?

OP posts:
Unrulysun · 13/04/2011 11:39

She ran around for months trying to get them to drop charges, contacting his lawyers to speak for him etc etc. Basically he would never do this, he would never hurt a fly, it was the drink (he's an alcoholic). She would like us all to welcome him back into our lives :(

garlicbutter · 13/04/2011 12:02

Hah! They should bring back that law where spouses aren't allowed to testify for each other!

InmaculadaConcepcion · 13/04/2011 13:28

Jeez Unrulysun Sad

MmeSurvivedLent · 13/04/2011 13:36

Bloody hell, Unrulysun. How awful.

I think that the review is great.

Does anyone know if there is any kind of education at school on domestic abuse? I was thinking of this recently.

I sometimes think that we should get some of the MNetters who have escaped abusive and controlling men to talk to young girls and tell them the warning signs, so that they don't get involved with these wankers.

garlicbutter · 13/04/2011 13:38

There is DV education in English schools now, MSL :) Sure someone will be along with the details in a minnit!

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 13/04/2011 14:40

Christ Unruly, that is appalling.

BelleDameSansMerci · 13/04/2011 14:46

I'm so happy to read about this review.

Unruly - that's just horrific.

StewieGriffinsMom · 13/04/2011 15:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SueSylvesterforPM · 13/04/2011 15:20

I heard this on e the new this morning its good but needs to be done before the death.

that is awful Unrulysun, i hope she leaves denial is a huge thing I've noticed.

my neighbour is a violent alchoholic one year he got so drunk he battered his own mother in the front street around the rockery and my mum phoned the police because he new his crippled wife would be next.
now his mother hates my mum and says his wife shouldn't speak to her.

garlicbutter · 13/04/2011 18:21

What age is the mother, Sue? My mum - much battered in her marriage - maintains it's far worse to be hit in public than in private "because of the shame". Gah. I just wondered if the alkie's mum similarly feels ashamed ... of being seen to be beaten :(

SueSylvesterforPM · 13/04/2011 18:48

his mother is like 70/80's

SueSylvesterforPM · 13/04/2011 18:55

sorry about your mum.

garlicbutter · 13/04/2011 19:10

Cheers, but she doesn't see it the same way I do. Yes, they're the same generation so it's likely the mother was more embarrassed about the recognition than angry at the beating. Mad, but there you go.

SueSylvesterforPM · 13/04/2011 19:13

Well heres the catch she battered the alkie as a child (her dad was violent)
a generational pattern

garlicbutter · 13/04/2011 19:22

It usually is :(

MmeSurvivedLent · 13/04/2011 19:25

Gosh, that is sad.

Good to hear that they are teaching the children, but at the same time sad. And since there are young girls being beaten up by their partners, obviously it is not enough to prevent them getting involved with violent men.