A scathing new report has accused the Labour government of failing to learn from past tragedies, leaving domestic abuse victims at continued risk of harm. The study highlights systemic gaps in protection policies, with campaigners warning that lives are being lost due to political inaction.
Missed Opportunities for Reform
Researchers found that despite repeated warnings from charities and coroners, ministers have not implemented key recommendations from domestic abuse-related death reviews. This includes failures to improve risk assessment procedures and increase funding for frontline services.
Key Findings:
- Over 60% of domestic homicide cases showed prior contact with authorities
- Only 12% of recommendations from death reviews have been fully implemented
- Funding for refuge spaces has fallen by 18% in real terms since 2020
Victims' Stories Ignored
The report documents several cases where victims had sought help multiple times before their deaths. In one tragic instance, a woman made five separate reports to police in the months before she was killed by her partner.
"When will the government start listening to victims?" asked Sarah Wilkinson of Women's Aid. "These aren't statistics - they're mothers, daughters and sisters whose deaths could have been prevented."
Government Response
A Home Office spokesperson stated: "We remain committed to tackling domestic abuse and have introduced new measures including the Domestic Abuse Act." However, campaigners argue these measures don't go far enough to address systemic failures.
The report calls for immediate action, including mandatory training for all frontline staff and proper funding for specialist services. With domestic violence accounting for nearly a third of violent crime in England and Wales, the stakes for reform have never been higher.
