Reviews into deaths linked to domestic abuse are being overhauled under new government guidance.
Changes that came into force on Tuesday mean domestic homicide reviews are being renamed to domestic abuse-related death reviews (DARDRs).
The reviews look at the circumstances surrounding deaths where domestic abuse is known or suspected to have played a part.
They aim to establish whether opportunities were missed to protect victims and what could be done differently to prevent similar cases.
Under the new rules, people who chair reviews will receive compulsory training. A Home Office quality assurance board will also oversee a larger number of reports.
Ministers have also committed to developing a system to monitor recommendations made following reviews. However, concerns have been raised about whether lessons from previous reviews have been acted on.
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner has said there is no consistent national system across England and Wales for making sure recommendations are followed.
Her office has also highlighted delays in completing reviews and concerns over the resources available to carry them out.
The changes mean a review can now be commissioned when a death had, or appears to have, resulted from domestic abuse as defined by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
The reforms are part of a wider government strategy published in December, which aims to half violence against women and girls over the next 10 years.
Image: Nadine E/UnSplash
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