Domestic Abuse-Related Suicides Surpass Homicides for Second Year in England and Wales

New police guidance aims to address systemic failures as only 3% of abusers linked to victim suicides face charges.

Domestic abuse-related suicides have outpaced intimate partner homicides for the second consecutive year, with 98 suspected suicides recorded in the past year.
Since 2020, there have been 1,012 domestic abuse-related deaths, including 354 suspected suicides, highlighting the crisis's scale.
Police have introduced new guidance to investigate unexpected deaths for connections to domestic abuse, including pursuing manslaughter charges against abusers.
90% of suspects in suicide cases linked to domestic abuse were previously known to police, yet only 3% have faced charges in the past four years.
Campaigners and experts emphasize the urgent need for sustained funding for domestic abuse services and stronger inter-agency collaboration to protect victims.