Domestic Violence Homicide Reviews

Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) were established on a statutory basis under Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004) which came into effect on 13th April 2011.

Under guidance issued by the Home Office, any incident of domestic violence or abuse which results in the death of the victim requires a DHR to be carried out by the local Community Safety Partnership. In Liverpool the Safer and Stronger Communities Team co-ordinate the review process. 

The purpose of the multi-agency review is to ensure that agencies are responding appropriately to victims of domestic violence and to apply any lessons learned through an action plan or recommendations.

There are no inquiries into who is culpable, this is for the court or coroner to decide.

Recently published Liverpool Domestic Homicide Reviews (LDHRs)

LDHR23: Review for the death of 'Erin' in 2021

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

  Download this document: Summary report into the death of 'Erin' (March 2023) (PDF: 355 KB)

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

  Download this document: Overview report into the death of 'Erin' (March 2023) (PDF: 533 KB)

• Home Office feedback letter (January 2024)

  Download this document: Home Office feedback letter (January 2024) (PDF: 99 KB)

• Action plan (March 2023)

  Download this document: Action plan (March 2023) (PDF: 289 KB)

LDHR/SAR20: Review for the death of 'Louise' in 2020

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

  Download this document: Summary report into the death of 'Louise' (February 2022) (PDF: 358 KB)

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

  Download this document: Overview report into the death of 'Louise' (February 2022) (PDF: 729 KB)

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

  Download this document: Home Office Quality Assurance letter on the DHR for 'Louise' (February 2023) (PDF: 103 KB)

• Appendix A: Action plan

  Download this document: Appendix A: Action plan (PDF: 201 KB)

LDHR16: 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

LDHR15: 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