Domestic abuse: Information for professionals

When we undertake a Domestic Abuse Related Death Review

In 2011, the Safer Kingston Partnership (as the local statutory Community Safety Partnership) became responsible for undertaking Domestic Homicide Reviews where the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by a relative, household member or someone with whom s/he had been in an intimate relationship.

How we undertake a Domestic Abuse Related Death Review

The Home Office has published guidance on when we need to set up a Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR) and how to do it. This is explained on the Home Office website.

If a domestic homicide takes place in Kingston, the Police inform the Chair of the Safer Kingston Partnership. The Safer Kingston Partnership then uses Statutory Guidance to establish whether the case meets the criteria for a DARDR and informs the Home Office of its decision. 

Once it is decided that a review should take place, a Review Panel, led by an Independent Chair, is commissioned to undertake the Domestic Abuse Related Death Review. The panel overseeing the review is made up of members of local, pan-London and national statutory and voluntary agencies. This panel will review each agency’s involvement in the case and consider recommendations to improve responses to domestic violence in the future. The Independent Chair will also aim to make contact with friends and family, to enable them to inform the review and build a complete view of the victim.

The purpose of a Domestic Abuse Related Death Review 

The purpose of a Domestic Abuse Related Death Review is to consider the circumstances that led to the death and identify where responses could be improved in the future – and where there are gaps in existing provision. In doing so, the lessons learned will be taken on board by the professionals and agencies involved in their working practices. Each DARDR has very different features and the process is quality assured by the Home Office to ensure that learning can be disseminated nationally and, potentially, internationally.

In this way, agencies will improve their responses to domestic violence and work better together to prevent such tragedies occurring in the future. Through our website, we will publish the reports and findings of these reviews as they become available.

Domestic Abuse Related Death Review reviews in Kingston

Two DARDR Reviews have been published by Royal Borough of Kingston.  We are currently updating our website to bring it in line with accessibility requirements and therefore do not currently have an online version.  To request a copy of the DARDRs, please email the Kingston VAWG team: vawg@kingston.gov.uk

Domestic Abuse Related Death Review 2011: Agapito

The Domestic Abuse Related Death Review for Agapito (not her real name) was the first in Kingston following the implementation of the Statutory Guidance issued in April 2011.

In October 2014 we were informed by the Home Office that this review had been approved for publication by their Quality Assurance panel.

The Safer Kingston Partnership and the Domestic Abuse Related Death Review Panel wish to express their condolences to Agapito’s daughter, family members and friends. May she rest in peace.

Domestic Abuse Related Death Review 2012: Kathleen

The second Domestic Abuse Related Death Review was for Kathleen (not her real name).

In March 2018 we were informed by the Home Office that this review had been approved for publication by the Quality Assurance panel.

The Safer Kingston Partnership and the Domestic Abuse Related Death Review Panel wish to express their condolences to Kathleen’s family members and friends. May she rest in peace.