Portsmouth City Council

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Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDR)

These reviews used to be called Domestic Homicide Reviews, but in 2024, the law changed. Under the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, they are now called Domestic Abuse-Related Death Reviews. This change makes sure all types of abuse-related deaths are recognised, not just those involving physical violence. These reviews look into the death of anyone aged 16 or over where domestic abuse may have been a factor.

This includes:

  • Violence, abuse, or neglect by a partner, family member, or someone they lived with
  • Deaths linked to emotional abuse, controlling behaviour, financial abuse, or suicide

Although these deaths are rare in Portsmouth, each one is a tragedy. We treat every case with care and respect. We use what we learn to improve services and help prevent future deaths.

Recent reviews

2024 reviews

Lee

The review into Lee’s death found serious problems with how different services shared information and assessed risk. In particular, they missed signs of growing controlling and abusive behaviour. The report calls for better teamwork between agencies, earlier support for people at risk, and more training to help professionals spot and respond to complex cases of domestic abuse.

Anne

The review into Anne’s death found missed chances to step in and offer support. It showed that better communication between services and stronger risk checks are needed. An action plan has been created to improve how we protect people, train professionals, and spot signs of domestic abuse earlier.

2022 and 2023 reviews

Betty

Betty’s review highlighted long-term coercive control and emotional abuse that escalated over time, with multiple missed opportunities for intervention by services. The report emphasised the need for improved professional curiosity, better risk assessment, and stronger multi-agency coordination to identify and respond to non-physical forms of domestic abuse.

Finn

Finn’s case involved complex mental health needs and a history of domestic abuse, with agencies failing to fully recognise the cumulative risks. The review called for enhanced information sharing, trauma-informed practice, and earlier, more coordinated support for individuals at risk.