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The Independent
25-03-2025
- The Independent
Number of suicides due to domestic abuse only ‘tip of iceberg', charity warns
The number of domestic abuse victims taking their own lives is only the 'tip of the iceberg', experts have warned, after a report found the majority of abuse-related deaths last year were suicides. A tragic 98 victims took their own lives between April 2023 and March 2024, compared with 80 who were killed by a current or former partner and 39 who were killed by a family member. This brings the total number of domestic abuse-related deaths to 1,012 since 2020, according to the government-funded Domestic Homicide Project, including 354 suspected suicides following domestic abuse. Domestic Abuse charity Refuge, which has partnered with The Independent to build two new refuges for women fleeing abuse, said that the figures come as 'no surprise' as violence against women and girls remains at 'epidemic levels'. However suicides linked to domestic abuse continue to be under-reported, they warned. Ellie Butt, head of policy and public affairs, said: 'The high number of both homicides and suicides underscores what we already know about the horrific prevalence of domestic abuse. However, we expect these figures to represent only the tip of the iceberg as suicides caused by domestic abuse continue to be severely under-reported. 'Over the past four years, coercive and controlling behaviour has consistently been identified as one of the biggest risk factors in relation to deaths caused by domestic abuse perpetrators. 'As a society, we cannot afford to continue trivialising coercive control when its devastating consequences are so clear.' Despite such high rates of suicide, only 3 per cent of abusers whose victim took their own lives have faced criminal charges in the past four years, the report found. She called for 'tangible steps' to help prevent future deaths and better support those experiencing abuse, adding the report must serve as a 'wake-up call' for those in power. 'Domestic abuse is a systemic issue, and many of these tragic deaths could have been prevented,' she added. 'Overall, 67 per cent of perpetrators were known to police. This figure is even higher in the case of suicides, with almost 90 per cent of victims and/or perpetrators being known to partner agencies. 'These chilling figures highlight the critical need for a multi-agency approach to tackling domestic abuse – in line with the report's recommendations – alongside an improved police response to reports of abuse.' Assistant commissioner Louisa Rolfe, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for domestic abuse, said she expects more domestic abusers to be charged with manslaughter if their victims take their own life. It comes after Preston Crown Court heard how young mother Kiena Dawes left a suicide note blaming her abusive partner before she took her own life. Ryan Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour towards Dawes after a six-week trial earlier this year, but was cleared of her manslaughter. Refuge is building two safe houses for survivors of domestic abuse and their children after The Independent raised £576,984. Both houses – which are being installed with safety alarms and fireproof letter boxes – should be completed by spring. Our Brick by Brick campaign, launched with Refuge last September, prompted a national conversation about the prevalence of violence within relationships, coercive control and the many vicious forms domestic abuse takes. It was backed by leading UK figures, including prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Queen, Dame Joanna Lumley, Dame Helen Mirren, Olivia Colman, Victoria Derbyshire and Sir Patrick Stewart. If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to to find a helpline near you More about Independent Brick by Brick Refuge
The Independent
25-03-2025
- The Independent
Just 3% of domestic abusers charged after victim driven to suicide, figures show
Only 3 per cent of domestic abusers whose victims took their own lives have faced criminal charges in the past four years, figures show. A report found that the number of victims driven to suicide has outstripped those killed by their partner for the second year running, yet such abusers are still rarely held to account. A tragic 98 victims took their own lives between April 2023 and March 2024, compared with 80 who were killed by a current or former partner and 39 who were killed by a family member. This brings the total number of domestic-abuse-related deaths to 1012 since 2020, according to the government-funded Domestic Homicide Project, including 354 suspected suicides following domestic abuse. Nine in 10 perpetrators in the cases where victims are suspected to have died by suicide were known to police as potential abusers. Despite this, only 12 have faced criminal charges and only one was charged with manslaughter over their victim's death. Other charges included common assault, controlling or coercive behaviour, actual bodily harm (ABH) and harassment. Police have said they expect manslaughter charges to increase with new guidance that urges officers to check for a history of domestic abuse when they respond to unexpected deaths. Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for domestic abuse, said that in the past, investigators have 'missed obvious patterns' of abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour. But the Home Office-funded research has shown a 'significant link' between domestic abuse and suicide. 'We absolutely want to do everything we can, where there's justice to be had, to ensure every opportunity is taken to pursue justice,' said Assistant Commissioner Rolfe. She said new guidance means that officers responding to unexpected deaths should be asking questions about any history of abuse to ensure that 'every possible line of inquiry' is followed, although she noted that there are 'challenges' in proving a causal link between abuse and suicide. Earlier this year, Preston Crown Court heard how young mother Kiena Dawes left a suicide note blaming her abusive partner before she took her own life. Ryan Wellings was convicted of assault and coercive and controlling behaviour towards Dawes after a six-week trial, but was cleared of her manslaughter. Grieving mother Sharon Holland, whose daughter Chloe Holland, 23, died after suffering a year of torment at the hands of an abusive partner, has repeatedly called for more to be done to ensure that abusers are held to account after victim suicides. She believes the scale of the problem is 'far higher' than the latest figures show, and called for better counselling and mental health support for victims. In Holland's case, Marc Masterton was jailed in 2023 for 41 months for coercive and controlling behaviour, but the CPS felt there was insufficient evidence to pursue manslaughter charges. His former partner came forward after hearing of Chloe's death, and he was jailed for a further 43 months last year. Assistant Commissioner Rolfe called for a focus on prevention, with help from other agencies including social services and mental health teams, adding: 'The data reinforces the critical need for policing to work with other agencies to identify those at risk of being [either] a perpetrator or a victim of domestic abuse. 'A preventative approach is the only way to stop the widespread harm of domestic abuse in all its forms.' Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, added: 'Every death related to domestic abuse is a life cut short and a devastating tragedy. The better we understand the links between domestic abuse and homicides, suicides and unexpected deaths, the better equipped we are to prevent them from happening in the first place. That's why the government has funded this vital research to shine a light on the scale of the problem. 'This report rightly demands coordinated action across government, police and partner agencies to tackle these issues head on – and we are already cracking on with work to put the voices of victims, their families and friends, and key stakeholders front and centre of this. 'Our upcoming violence against women and girls strategy will set out our ambition, and concrete actions to strengthen our response to perpetrators and deliver on our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.' If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@ or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to to find a helpline near you
The Guardian
25-03-2025
- The Guardian
Domestic abusers driving more victims to suicide, warn police
Domestic abusers are driving their victims to suicide, police have warned as they admitted to past mistakes and pledged to investigate more 'hidden' cases of violence against women. The concession came as a new report revealed that deaths by suicide among victims of domestic abuse surpassed the number of people killed by an intimate partner for a second year in a row. The 1,012 domestic abuse-related deaths recorded in the past four years were described as a 'grim milestone' by Louisa Rolfe, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) lead for domestic abuse. She said it showed 'how deeply ingrained violence against women and girls is in our communities'. Of the 262 domestic abuse-related deaths recorded in England and Wales between the start of April 2023 and the end of March last year, 98 were classified as suspected victim suicide following domestic abuse (SVSDA). The latest report by the Domestic Homicide Project, which is funded by the Home Office and led by the NPCC using live police records, also examined deaths where someone had fallen from a height. Twenty-two such deaths were recorded across 13 forces during the four-year period. Of these, 36% were recorded as SVSDA and 27% as unexpected deaths. Three of the women who died from a fall were pregnant at the time of their death, a proportion the report called 'notably' high, considering that just five women in the entire four-year sample were pregnant. The analysis was carried out in collaboration with the campaign group Killed Women, which has pushed for domestic abuse to be a key line of inquiry for police investigating any death of a woman who has fallen from a height. In 2024, the Guardian's Killed Women Count campaign reported on every woman allegedly killed by a man. At the end of the year, the number of deaths stood at 80. Rolfe, a Metropolitan police assistant commissioner, told a briefing that she expected to see a rise in the number of manslaughter convictions as a result of a new 'unexpected deaths policy', which will prompt officers to consider whether domestic abuse could have been a contributing factor in an individual's death. She said there was a challenge in Britain's 'adversarial' legal system when it came to proving beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a causal link between domestic abuse and someone taking their own life. 'Of course, the burden of proof should sit with the prosecution,' she said. 'But what's really clear from the research and speaking with families is that in the past, in too many cases, investigators have missed obvious patterns of coercive, controlling behaviour. 'I don't think police are missing homicides that are staged [to look like] suicide. However, it's very clear that there is more for us to do to be really curious about what's happened, to ensure that evidence at the scene of an incident is very thoroughly captured and explored.' Rolfe also said that she wanted 'to be able to answer victims' families' questions and be able to look them in the eye and say that every possible line of inquiry was followed'. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion She added: 'I've met some incredibly impressive families who have felt they themselves have needed to investigate after their loved one's death, and that's wrong, because that's our job, and we must do that.' The report also revealed that 68% of victims and/or perpetrators of domestic abuse were known to the police or another agency, and called for better information-sharing to prevent future deaths. In 54% of domestic homicides, the perpetrator was already known to the police, and in 90% of SVSDA cases involving a history of coercive and controlling behaviour, the suspect had previous contact with agencies other than the police. The proportion of deaths that were killings by current or former partners remained at about 30% across the four-year period, the report found. The 1,012 domestic abuse-related deaths recorded over the four years include 501 domestic homicides – 332 by current or ex-partners and 169 by another adult relative. The most commonly recorded risk factors in relation to suspects were mental ill health, a history of coercive and controlling behaviour, alcohol use and drug misuse. Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said: 'The better we understand the links between domestic abuse and homicides, suicides and unexpected deaths, the better equipped we are to prevent them from happening in the first place.' If you are experiencing domestic abuse you can contact the Refuge freephone 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247 or visit In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@ or jo@ In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 988, chat on or text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counsellor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at
