Flawed DV tool

[mumda]

Pretty grim reading. Women are dead because police tool was very inadequate.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk./news/2025/08/16/flawed-domestic-violence-tool-dash-checklist/

The Telegraph’s investigation links at least 55 femicides – the intentional murder of women because of their gender – to the assessment. A data scientist behind a rival tool warned that the true toll could top 400 deaths

Five questions you could answer "yes" to and still not be classed as being at "low risk" of harm
Under the Dash checklist, victims usually need 14 or more “yes” answers before being deemed “high risk” and eligible for intensive support

13. Has [name of abuser(s)] ever used weapons or objects to hurt you?

14. Has [name of abuser(s)] ever threatened to kill you or someone else and you believed them?

15. Has [name of abuser(s)] ever attempted to strangle / choke / suffocate / drown you?

16. Does [name of abuser(s)] do or say things of a sexual nature that make you feel bad or that physically hurt you or someone else? If someone else, specify who.

17. Do you know if [name of abuser(s)] has hurt anyone else? Consider HBV [honour-based violence]. Please specify whom, including the children, siblings or elderly relatives.

Yes, have seen the DASH and think it would be dangerous just to rely on it to make an assessment.

Different poster ( or username) but very similar thread to one yesterday. Odd.

I’ve experienced it. It’s an appallingly shit ‘tool’. Even the police seemed embarrassed by it.

It is a grim outcome. While some processes like this are good to ensure we, as humans, don’t allow biases to over ride our decision making, they should be only part of a process of course.

Existing thread here.

Please check for other, links, comments.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5393217-dozens-of-women-murdered-after-police-rely-on-deeply-flawed-domestic-violence-tool

I've used it extensively in the past - we use something else now.

Decisions whether people at risk of domestic violence get discussed a MARAC should always be based on professional judgement rather than a score being met, especially when those scores rely on the people at risk being completely truthful which often they can't be due to fear, guilt, shame or denial.

Certainly in my area the DASH wasn't used as the only measure and decisions were always made with mind to Monkton-Smith's Domestic Abuse Homicide Timeline as well, along with good old fashioned professional judgement.

No system will ever be perfect and sadly whatever is in place men will continue to kill women with horrific regularity.

What we should be 'celebrated' is the decision to include death by suicide where DV has been contributing factor in the Domestic Homicide stats and DHRs so that Homicide by suicide through abuse is recognised as well.

I don't think there needs to be a blame game. The DASH did wonders in giving the average bobby on the beat and other professionals a tool to start the conversation. If we now have improved tools and understanding as a result of that... it's better than nothing.