Justice Is Important, but Domestic Abuse Prevention Must Start Long Before a Courtroom.
This week, the Government announced that people who murder a current or former partner will face a new 25-year minimum sentencing starting point, bringing domestic homicides into line with other murders where a weapon is taken to the scene. The change closes a long-standing gap in sentencing that meant many domestic murders, often committed in the family home using a weapon already present, had a lower starting point of 15 years.
The announcement forms part of the Government's wider commitment to halve violence against women and girls over the next decade and follows years of campaigning by bereaved families who argued that the law did not fully recognise the seriousness and devastating impact of domestic homicide.
It is an important and welcome step.
It sends a clear message that domestic homicide should never be viewed as somehow less serious because it happened behind closed doors or with a weapon found in the home.
But as safeguarding professionals, I believe we also have to ask ourselves a much more difficult question.
How do we stop people ever becoming another sentencing statistic?
Domestic homicide is rarely a single act of violence.
It is often the tragic end of months, or years of escalating abuse.
Every Domestic Homicide Review tells a story that started long before a murder took place.
It often began with:
coercive and controlling behaviour
isolation from family and friends
financial abuse
stalking
intimidation and threats
emotional manipulation
professionals holding fragments of information that, when brought together, revealed a far greater level of risk.
This is where safeguarding has the greatest opportunity to make a difference.
Whilst stronger sentencing is vital, it comes after lives have already been lost. Our focus must remain on recognising risk earlier, responding with professional curiosity, sharing information effectively and having the confidence to challenge decisions when something doesn't feel right.
The Government itself acknowledged that domestic murders are among the most devastating crimes and frequently represent the culmination of prolonged trauma and abuse. That sentence should resonate with every safeguarding professional because it reinforces what we see every day: abuse escalates when opportunities to intervene are missed.
Domestic abuse affects every sector.
Whether you work in education, healthcare, housing, local government, charities, sport or the private sector, someone within your organisation may already be experiencing abuse or using abusive behaviours.
Safeguarding leaders therefore have a responsibility to ensure their organisations can:
recognise the early indicators of domestic abuse
understand coercive and controlling behaviour
respond confidently to disclosures
assess and manage escalating risk
work collaboratively with specialist agencies
create cultures where people feel safe enough to seek help.
At RLB, we believe domestic abuse is everybody's business. Alongside our specialist domestic abuse associates, we support organisations through consultancy, safeguarding audits and evidence-based training that equips leaders, managers and frontline staff with the knowledge and confidence to recognise abuse, ask the right questions and take appropriate action.
Because legislation can strengthen justice but safeguarding has the power to prevent tragedy.
Every disclosure believed.
Every concern professionally challenged.
Every piece of information shared.
Every opportunity to intervene.
These are the moments that save lives and that is where our collective focus must remain.
Resources
Read the press release here