The importance of public services and co-ordination

On average about seven women and two men are killed by their current or former partner every month in England and Wales.

Many campaigners call this death rate a scandal and say victims’ appeals for help are too often met with apathy, disbelief and even hostility by police.

Since April 2011 the law has required a domestic homicide review to be carried out after every domestic violence death in England and Wales.

Davina James-Hanman, director of the charity Against Violence and Abuse and independent chair of several such reviews, said they analyse the way agencies such as the police and social services handle cases. Progress made to prevent future violence is also examined.

She said the benefits of the reviews could include identifying “new risk factors”.

Davina James-Hanman, director of the charity Against Violence and Abuse.

One factor not widely recognised at present was the length of time someone had pursued their ex-partner, she said, citing the example of a man who harassed his ex for six years before killing her.

Ms James-Hanman said public services had made progress but that co-ordination between them was still “missing”.

She said the system “starts to fall apart” when someone experiencing domestic violence also has other problems such as mental health or drug abuse issues.

And she said there was a “sub-culture” of women who could not or would not access help, such as those with “immigration issues” and women who are “followed everywhere” by their partners.

Ms James-Hanman said the term “domestic homicide” should also include suicides prompted by domestic violence, but at present such deaths were rarely treated in this way.

Although men are less likely to be killed by a current or former partner, further work is also needed to make sure those at risk are identified and helped, said Mark Brooks – chairman of the charity the ManKind Initiative.

“We as a society need to do more to recognise and accept that men are victims too, so we look for signs of domestic abuse in the same way as we would for a female victim.”

There is no “typical” case, but male victims often suffer emotional and psychological abuse and can feel as though they have been groomed and isolated from friends and family, said Mr Brooks. There may also be physical abuse.

Male victims need to “feel they will be believed”, with more awareness campaigns and “escape routes” including refuges and safe houses available, he said.