Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews: Turning Lessons into Prevention
New statutory guidance has been published for Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews (DARDRs), strengthening the focus on learning from domestic abuse-related deaths and using that learning to prevent future harm.
Published by the Home Office on 15 September 2026, the guidance accompanies the move from the previous term Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) to Domestic Abuse Related Death Review. The change reflects the wider circumstances in which domestic abuse can contribute to a death, including homicide, suicide and unexplained deaths where domestic abuse may have played a part.
At the heart of these reviews is a simple but important principle: every domestic abuse-related death should provide an opportunity to understand what happened, where opportunities to intervene may have been missed, and what needs to change.
Reviews bring together agencies, organisations and those who knew the victim to build a fuller picture of their experiences. The aim is not simply to examine individual decisions, but to identify learning across services and partnerships and ensure it results in meaningful action.
From national strategy to practical prevention
The new guidance also sits within the Government's wider strategy to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), where prevention, earlier intervention and stronger coordination between organisations remain central.
For local authorities, Community Safety Partnerships, transport organisations, employers, education providers and other organisations with responsibilities for safety, the challenge is therefore not simply having a VAWG strategy. It is being able to demonstrate how that strategy translates into everyday practice.
imabi helps organisations turn those commitments into practical, accessible action through technology that can support:
simple and discreet reporting routes, including anonymous options
trusted support and guidance that is easier to find when it is needed
Safe Spaces and location-aware safety information and mapping
communication and awareness campaigns reaching people directly
lived-experience surveys, polls and feedback
data and insight to identify recurring concerns, patterns and potential hotspots
more joined-up approaches between organisations and community partners
Domestic abuse-related deaths show why prevention cannot begin only when a situation reaches crisis point