As part of the Government’s initiative to halve violence against women within a decade, domestic abusers who strangle their victims or kill as part of post-separation abuse will face harsher sentences under new laws. In addition, the Law Commission will conduct a review into homicide law and the framework around murder sentencing.
These recommendations from Clare Wade KC’s independent Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review will be implemented as part of the Plan for Change. The wider review will consider the issues raised by campaigners, including the issue of diminished responsibility and how it is considered, and demand that the sentencing framework appropriately reflects the serious nature of domestic homicides.
Lord Chancellor Shabana Mahmood said, “As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, we are cracking down on violence against women and creating safer streets. I fully recognise the concerns raised around homicide law and sentencing, but these are incredibly complex issues and previous tinkering is what has led to the current disparities, so it is right that the Law Commission takes a comprehensive look at it. Every year around 85 people – overwhelmingly women – are killed by their current or ex-partner, and most of the time these crimes take place in the home.”
Minister for Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones said, “The level of violence against women is a national crisis which this Government is determined to tackle, and that includes ensuring the punishment fits the crime for the most abhorrent crimes.”
The current murder sentencing framework in England and Wales was introduced in 2003 and has not been comprehensively reviewed since then.
The review is part of wider efforts to reduce domestic and sexual violence, including:
- Plans to embed domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms.
- Launching Domestic Abuse Protection Orders in selected sites which mean victims of all types of domestic abuse including economic abuse, coercive control, stalking, and violence can seek protection.
- A commitment to make spiking a criminal offence
- Increasing the powers of the Victims Commissioner to reinforce their role as a powerful champion for victims.
- Introducing Independent Legal Advocates for victims of adult rape.
- Introduce new ‘Right to Know’ statutory guidance to empower the police to release the identity of an online stalker at the earliest opportunity
