Domestic Abuse Suicides Exceed Homicides in England and Wales

A new report backed by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) highlights a disturbing trend where more victims of domestic abuse are taking their own lives than being killed by their partners in England and Wales. The report from the Domestic Homicide Project revealed that 98 suspected suicides were linked to domestic abuse in the year ending March 2024, surpassing the 80 homicides by intimate partners for the second consecutive year. Louisa Rolfe, NPCC's lead for domestic abuse, acknowledged past investigation failures and vowed to increase manslaughter charges against abusers whose victims die by suicide. Despite 92% of suspects being known to authorities, only 3% have faced charges, prompting calls for improved police investigation protocols. The report underscores the critical need for authorities to recognize early warning signs and intervene to prevent these deaths, with activists pushing for mandatory investigations into the history of abuse in unexpected deaths.