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Refuge and Women’s Aid welcome longer sentences for domestic homicide
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The charities Refuge and Women’s Aid have published responses to the Ministry of Justice’s announcement that the minimum starting point for life sentences following domestic homicide will increase from 15 to 25 years.
Ellie Butt, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Refuge, said:
“Today’s announcement that the minimum starting point for life sentences after domestic homicide will increase from 15-25 years is hugely welcome.This is both a crucial step towards improved justice for victims and a much-needed acknowledgement of how horrific a crime domestic homicide truly is.
“Every five days, a woman is killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales, meaning that dozens of lives are brutally taken by domestic homicide ever year. It is long overdue for the criminal justice system to recognise the gravity of this crime.
“Most sentences for domestic homicides have a 15-year starting point because they take place in the home and are often committed using a weapon already at the location. However, the vast majority of women killed by a current or ex partner have endured years of domestic abuse and coercive control before being murdered. While longer sentences cannot undo the immeasurable loss and trauma caused by domestic homicide, they are an important step towards delivering justice for bereaved families and sending a clear message that violence against women and girls (VAWG) will not be tolerated.
“Alongside the increase in life sentences for perpetrators, we welcome the recognition that women who kill their abusers should not be subject to these stronger sentencing provisions.
“However, the changes do not address cases where perpetrators who kill a current or former partner are convicted of manslaughter rather than murder. The partial defences frequently relied upon in these cases must also be reviewed to ensure that domestic homicide perpetrators are held fully accountable and receive sentences that reflect the seriousness of their crimes.”
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Ellie Daniel, Head of Policy at Women’s Aid, said:
“We welcome today’s announcement from the Ministry of Justice, which will see plans to deliver longer sentences to domestic killers. The tragic reality remains that one woman a week is killed by their current or former partner, with many having suffered a sustained campaign of abuse leading to the homicide. Their deaths are a tragedy and their killers deserve the most severe punishments, regardless of whether the weapon was in the home or not.
“While this is a welcome step, we continue calling for greater reform in the criminal justice system, including mandatory domestic abuse training for all those working with survivors, or handling their cases. We are also calling for greater investment in survivor support – all of these deaths are preventable and no woman or child should have to live in life-threatening conditions.
“Finally, in implementing this change it will be essential that sufficient safeguards are put in place to ensure this change does not negatively impact survivors of abuse who are accused of offending.”
To read the Ministry of Justice's announcement, click here.
