Behind the steady decline in overall homicide rates across England and Wales, a different and more persistent form of killing continues to claim lives behind closed doors. Domestic homicide—the killing of a partner, former partner, or family member—remains one of the most significant forms of lethal violence in the United Kingdom.
Official figures released by the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that domestic homicide accounted for 111 deaths in England and Wales during the year ending March 2025, only slightly lower than the 117 recorded the previous year. Of those victims, 75 were women and 36 were men, with 67 people killed by a current or former partner. More than two-thirds of domestic homicide victims were female.
The figures reveal a stark contrast with homicide generally. While overall homicides fell to their lowest recorded level in decades, domestic killings have remained comparatively stable. For women, the danger is particularly acute: more than half of adult female homicide victims in England and Wales during the year ending March 2025 were killed in domestic circumstances.
A Persistent Pattern
Domestic abuse remains widespread across the country.
The ONS estimates that approximately 3.8 million adults experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales during the year ending March 2025, including around 2.2 million women and 1.5 million men. Police recorded more than 816,000 domestic abuse-related crimes during the same period.
Although victims include both men and women, official homicide data demonstrates that women are disproportionately represented among those killed in domestic settings. Between the years ending March 2022 and March 2024, nearly 70% of domestic homicide victims were female. In the majority of female domestic homicide cases, the suspect was a current or former male partner.
Warnings Missed
A recurring theme emerging from recent cases is the existence of warning signs long before a killing occurs.
In May 2026, the family of 24-year-old Harshita Brella travelled to Britain seeking answers after her body was discovered in the boot of a vehicle in East London in late 2024. Her husband was charged with murder, rape, sexual assault, and coercive control before leaving the UK. Family members have alleged that previous reports of domestic abuse were not adequately addressed before her death.
Another case has prompted scrutiny of police procedures following the death of Jo Shaw in Bristol. Investigators are examining years of police contact involving Shaw and her former partner after he allegedly forced entry into her home with an explosive device. Authorities are investigating whether opportunities existed to prevent the fatal attack.
Meanwhile, the family of Michaela Hall, murdered by a repeat domestic abuser, has launched legal action against public authorities. Court documents and reviews of the case indicate multiple reports of abuse and risk factors were known before the killing occurred.
These cases echo findings from numerous Domestic Homicide Reviews, which repeatedly identify failures in information sharing, risk assessment, offender management, and victim protection.
Coercive Control and Escalation
Experts increasingly argue that domestic homicide should not be viewed as isolated incidents but as the final stage of escalating abuse.
In many recent cases, victims experienced coercive control, stalking, harassment, threats, or previous violence before they were killed. The 2026 conviction of a London man for murdering his partner, charity co-founder Annabel Rook, highlighted allegations of a pattern of abuse before the fatal attack. Prosecutors argued that evidence demonstrated a sustained deterioration in the relationship and attempts by the victim to leave.
Researchers and advocacy groups note that separation remains one of the highest-risk periods for victims. The end of a relationship can trigger escalated violence among abusive partners seeking to regain control.
The Hidden Death Toll
Domestic abuse-related deaths extend beyond homicide statistics.
Data released through the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Domestic Homicide Project indicate a rise in suicides linked to domestic abuse. Reports suggest that 150 people were suspected to have taken their own lives following domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025, compared with 98 during the previous year. Officials caution that improved recording practices may partly explain the increase, but campaigners argue that the figures reveal a hidden dimension of domestic abuse fatalities.
Additional reporting has shown that hundreds of domestic abuse-related suicides have been recorded in recent years, while only a small proportion have resulted in criminal prosecutions.
Calls for Reform
Campaigners continue to press for stronger intervention measures, better offender monitoring, and improved responses to coercive control.
Families of victims have repeatedly argued that warning signs were visible but insufficiently acted upon. Some are advocating for changes ranging from enhanced domestic abuse risk assessments to closer scrutiny of repeat offenders and greater accountability for agencies that fail to protect vulnerable individuals.
The challenge facing policymakers is significant. While homicide overall has declined, domestic homicide remains stubbornly resistant to broader crime reductions. Official statistics suggest that the home continues to be one of the most dangerous places for many victims, particularly women.
Between 2024 and 2026, domestic homicide remained a persistent feature of violent crime in the United Kingdom. The evidence points not to sudden acts of violence but to patterns of abuse that often unfold over months or years before becoming fatal.
As investigators, coroners, and families continue to examine individual tragedies, a common question emerges: how many of these deaths were preventable?
For many campaigners, the answer lies not only in criminal justice responses after a killing, but in recognising and acting upon the warning signs long before one occurs.
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