Domestic abuse
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Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs)
Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) were established on a statutory basis under Section 9 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 and came into force on 13 April 2011. In 2016 the scope of DHRs was expanded to cover deaths by suicide, although the name was not changed to reflect this change.
The legislation underpinning DHRs was amended by the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, to rename them as Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews.
Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) are responsible for undertaking DARDRs when a death has, or appears to have resulted from domestic abuse, as defined by section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The new Guidance applies to reviews where the notification is received after 15 September 2026. Death notifications received before then, or reviews already underway prior to this date, continue under the 2016 guidance.
A review panel led by an independent chair and consisting of representatives from statutory and voluntary agencies is commissioned to undertake the DARDR. The panel reviews each agency's involvement in the case and makes recommendations to improve responses in the future and identify what lessons can be learnt. The panel will also consider information from the victim's family, friends, and work colleagues.
DARDRs are not enquiries into how someone died or who is to blame, nor do they form part of a disciplinary process. They do not replace, but are in addition to, an inquest and any other form of enquiry.
The purpose of DARDRs is to consider the circumstances that led to the death and to identify where responses to the situation could be improved in the future. Lessons learned from the reviews will help agencies to improve their response to domestic abuse and to work better together to prevent such tragedies from occurring again.
In 2026 the Home Office published updated Statutory Guidance on how to complete DARDRs.
The following DHRs have been conducted in the West Northamptonshire area:
- DHR001 - 2012 Daventry area
- DHR001 - 2016 Northampton area
- DHR002 - 2016 Northampton area
- DHR 004 - 2019 Northampton area
- DHR 006 - 2021 Northampton area
- DHR008 - 2022 Northampton area
- DHRNN2021 - 2021 Northampton area
Support available
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse provide specialist and expert advocacy and peer support.
GOV.uk has information available to support family and friends.
Last updated 06 November 2026