Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs)

Under section 8A of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 20041 (as amended by section 19 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024), a Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR), formerly known as Domestic Homicide Review (DHR), is a review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from domestic abuse, with a view to identifying the lessons to be learned from the death.

A DARDR provides an opportunity for national and local agencies, local communities, and society as a whole to consider each victim individually and treat every death as preventable.

The legislation underpinning DARDRs was amended by the Victims and Prisoners Act 20244, so that a DARDR is commissioned when a death has, or appears to have, resulted from domestic abuse, as defined by section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

In Liverpool the Safer and Stronger Communities Team co-ordinate the review process.

Recently published Liverpool DARDRs

LDHR 16: Review for the death of 'Sarah' in 2017

Summary report into the death of 'Sarah' (May 2020)

Download this document: Summary report into the death of 'Sarah' (May 2020) (PDF: 363 KB)
Overview report into the death of 'Sarah' (May 2020)

Download this document: Overview report into the death of 'Sarah' (May 2020) (PDF: 641 KB)
Home Office Quality Assurance letter on the DHR for 'Sarah' (November 2021)

Download this document: Home Office Quality Assurance letter on the DHR for 'Sarah' (November 2021) (PDF: 151 KB)
Learning briefing from the DHR of 'Sarah' (January 2023)

Download this document: Learning briefing from the DHR of 'Sarah' (January 2023) (PDF: 137 KB)

Learning from the death of 'Sarah', who died as a result of gross neglect by her husband.

First published: 10/01/2023

Last updated: 10/01/2023
7-minute learning briefing from the DHR of 'Sarah' (January 2023)

Download this document: 7-minute learning briefing from the DHR of 'Sarah' (January 2023) (PDF: 147 KB)

A 7-minute summary of the learning briefing for LDHR 16 - death of 'Sarah' in 2017.

If you would like a copy of the action plan for DHR16, please email MARAC@liverpool.gov.uk

LDHR 15: Review for the death of 'Joan' in 2018

Summary report into the death of 'Joan' (June 2021)

Download this document: Summary report into the death of 'Joan' (June 2021) (PDF: 244 KB)

First published: 11/05/2022
Home Office Quality Assurance letter on the DHR for 'Joan' (May 2021)

Download this document: Home Office Quality Assurance letter on the DHR for 'Joan' (May 2021) (PDF: 98 KB)

First published: 11/05/2022

If you would like a copy of the action plan for DHR15, please email MARAC@liverpool.gov.uk

Further information

Home Office Multi-agency Statutory Guidance for the Conduct of Domestic Homicide Reviews.
Leaflets from the Home Office website.
AAFDA - Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse - offers support to those affected by a domestic homicide, regardless of whether they are involved in a Homicide Review

Communities and safety

Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs)

Recently published Liverpool DARDRs

LDHR 30: Review for the death of 'Layla' in 2023

Overview report into the death of 'Layla' (April 2025)

Summary report into the death of 'Layla' (April 2025)

Action plan (June 2026)

LDHR 26: Review for the death of 'Matt' in 2022

Overview report into the death of 'Matt' (April 2022)

Summary report into the death of 'Matt' (April 2022)

Action plan (January 2024)

LDHR 29: Review for the death of 'Paul' in 2023

Overview report into the death of 'Paul' (March 2023)

Summary report into the death of 'Paul' (March 2023)

Action plan (June 2024)

LDHR 28: Review for the death of 'Holly' in 2022

Overview report into the death of 'Holly' (June 2022)

Summary report into the death of 'Holly' (June 2022)

Action Plan (November 2023)

LDHR 25: Review for the death of 'Alex' in 2021

Overview report into the death of 'Alex' (November 2021)

Summary report into the death of 'Alex' (November 2021)

Action Plan (October 2023)

LDHR 24: Review of the death of 'Tommy' in 2021

Overview report into the death of 'Tommy' (December 2021)

Summary report into the death of 'Tommy' (December 2021)

Action Plan (July 2023)

LDHR 23: Review for the death of 'Erin' in 2021

Summary report into the death of 'Erin' (March 2023)

Overview report into the death of 'Erin' (March 2023)

Home Office feedback letter (January 2024)

Action plan (March 2023)

LDHR 22: Review of the death of 'Tay' in 2021

Overview report into the death of 'Tay' (January 2021)

Summary report into the death of 'Tay' (January 2021)

Action Plan (May 2023)

LDHR 21: Review for the death of 'Mary' in 2020

Summary report into the death of 'Mary' (February 2020)

Overview report into the death of 'Mary' (February 2020)

Home Office feedback letter (August 2023)

Action plan (January 2022)

LDHR/SAR 20: Review for the death of 'Louise' in 2020

Summary report into the death of 'Louise' (February 2022)

Overview report into the death of 'Louise' (February 2022)

Home Office Quality Assurance letter on the DHR for 'Louise' (February 2023)

Appendix A: Action plan

LDHR 16: Review for the death of 'Sarah' in 2017

Summary report into the death of 'Sarah' (May 2020)

Overview report into the death of 'Sarah' (May 2020)

Home Office Quality Assurance letter on the DHR for 'Sarah' (November 2021)

Learning briefing from the DHR of 'Sarah' (January 2023)

7-minute learning briefing from the DHR of 'Sarah' (January 2023)

LDHR 15: Review for the death of 'Joan' in 2018

Summary report into the death of 'Joan' (June 2021)

Home Office Quality Assurance letter on the DHR for 'Joan' (May 2021)

Further information