Domestic abusers are driving victims to suicide police warn

Domestic abusers are pushing their victims to suicide, police have warned, as they acknowledge past investigative failures and commit to tackling more “hidden” cases of violence against women.

A new report has revealed that deaths by suicide among victims of domestic abuse have outnumbered those killed by an intimate partner for the second consecutive year. This stark statistic underscores the pervasive impact of domestic violence and coercive control.

According to the Domestic Homicide Project, which is funded by the Home Office and led by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), 1,012 domestic abuse-related deaths have been recorded in the past four years—a figure described as a “grim milestone” by Louisa Rolfe, NPCC lead for domestic abuse.

Of the 262 domestic abuse-related deaths in England and Wales between April 2023 and March 2024, 98 were classified as suspected victim suicide following domestic abuse (SVSDA). The report also examined cases where individuals fell from heights, with 22 such deaths recorded across 13 police forces in the same period. Of these, 36% were ruled as SVSDA, while 27% were categorized as unexpected deaths. Alarmingly, three of the women who died in falls were pregnant at the time, a proportion deemed “notably high” given that only five pregnant women were identified in the four-year dataset.

The campaign group Killed Women collaborated on the report and has been advocating for domestic abuse to be considered a primary line of inquiry in any case where a woman has died following a fall.

Louisa Rolfe, a Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner, stated that the force expects an increase in manslaughter convictions due to a new “unexpected deaths policy.” The policy will ensure officers thoroughly examine whether domestic abuse played a role in a victim’s death.

Rolfe acknowledged the difficulties in proving a direct causal link between domestic abuse and suicide within Britain’s adversarial legal system but emphasized that investigators have historically overlooked clear patterns of coercive and controlling behavior. “What’s really clear from the research and speaking with families is that in too many cases, investigators have missed obvious signs,” she said.

She also noted that while she does not believe police are missing homicides staged to look like suicides, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all potential evidence is meticulously gathered and scrutinized.

“We must be able to answer victims’ families’ questions and look them in the eye, knowing that every possible line of inquiry was followed,” Rolfe concluded.

This latest development signals a shift in police priorities, with authorities pledging to take a more proactive approach in investigating the hidden toll of domestic abuse-related deaths. However, campaigners continue to push for systemic changes to ensure that victims receive the protection and justice they deserve.

Five Key Facts About Domestic Abuse

1. Prevalence: Domestic abuse affects millions worldwide, with one in four women and one in six men experiencing abuse in their lifetime.

2. Forms of Abuse: It can take many forms, including physical violence, emotional abuse, financial control, and coercive behaviour.

3. Impact on Mental Health: Victims of domestic abuse are at a significantly higher risk of developing anxiety, depression, and PTSD, often leading to suicide.

4. Children as Silent Victims: Exposure to domestic abuse has long-term psychological and emotional effects on children, even if they are not directly harmed.

5. Barriers to Leaving: Many victims struggle to leave abusive relationships due to fear, financial dependence, social stigma, and lack of support systems.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.

2 women per week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales.

68% of domestic abuse victims experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

75% of domestic abuse-related homicides occur within the first year of leaving an abuser.

50% of female homicide victims worldwide are killed by an intimate partner.

Economic abuse affects 1 in 5 women, making it harder for victims to leave abusive relationships.

Authorities and advocacy groups emphasize the urgent need for continued efforts to combat domestic abuse, protect victims, and hold perpetrators accountable.