In response to the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s (NPCC) Domestic Homicide Project report, Ellie Butt, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Refuge, said:
“Domestic abuse is at epidemic levels, and too often, the consequences are fatal, as demonstrated in the 347 deaths linked to domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025. An increase from the previous year, this is more than a statistic – behind this figure are hundreds of lives cut short.
“While domestic homicide remains horrifically common, the confirmation that those experiencing abuse are more likely to die by suicide than be killed by a partner must serve as an urgent wakeup call not to underestimate the trauma caused by domestic abuse.
“Refuge welcomes improved recording of suicides linked to domestic abuse following a change in police practice last year, but these figures likely represent just the tip of the iceberg. Earlier this year, new research from a suicide prevention programme in Kent suggests that official statistics capture as few as 6.5% of the true number of cases. This means that nearly all suicides linked to abuse are going unrecognised and underreported.
“Alarmingly, the vast majority of victims and perpetrators were already known to the police and other agencies, including mental health services. It is also deeply concerning that coercive and controlling behaviour has consistently been identified as one of the biggest risk factors, but remains widely misunderstood and too often overlooked by police and other agencies.
“No one should ever feel that suicide is their only escape from abuse. Alongside others in the sector, we are calling for any suicide involving abuse to be investigated as a potential homicide from the outset. This must be accompanied by mandatory trauma-informed police training on the dynamics of domestic abuse, alongside improved multi-agency collaboration to safeguard victim-survivors.
“Crucially, there also must be an urgent increase in funding for specialist domestic abuse services to ensure victim-survivors can access the support they deserve. Without it, lives will continue to be taken by domestic abuse.”
