Scotland's National Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Model

Overview

Domestic homicide and domestic abuse related suicide reviews aim to learn lessons following a death where abuse is known or suspected. They look to “illuminate the past to make the future safer.” Frank Mullane, CEO Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse.

The development of a domestic homicide and suicide review model in Scotland is a commitment within the co-owned Scottish Government and COSLA Equally Safe Delivery Plan. This commitment was strengthened through its inclusion within the Programme for Government 2023-2024, demonstrating that the development of the model is a key priority for the Scottish Government. The commitment was further strengthened through the Programme for Government 2024-25 which includes a commitment to bring forward legislation to underpin the national review model. 

In response to the commitment to legislate, the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill, was introduced to the Scottish  Parliament on 24 September 2024. The Bill is a dual purpose Bill with provisions within Part 2 creating the statutory framework for what will be Scotland’s national multi-agency domestic homicide and suicide review model. Further detail on the Bill and what stage the Bill is at, can be found here.

Provisions within the Bill have been shaped and informed by the Scottish Government led Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Taskforce. The Taskforce was established in December 2022 to provide national leadership for the development and implementation of the multi-agency review model. 

Approaches taken in other jurisdictions have been examined as part of our approach, as well as reviewing the existing review processes in Scotland. Together this is helping to develop a robust, fit for purpose, Scotland-specific system of the highest standard.

Principles

The Scottish model will be built on a set of core principles. These are: 

• person-centred - respecting an individual's needs and values, treating them fairly, communicating with them clearly and recognising that they are the experts in their own lives  
• trauma-informed - recognising the impact that trauma can have, making sure to minimise the risk of re-traumatisation and understanding that access to support promotes recovery
• transparent - operating in an open, honest, clear and comprehensive way
• inclusive - ensuring we are open to all, equal, fair and respectful. Whilst fully recognising that the overwhelming majority of domestic homicides are carried out by men against women, there are a consistent number of male victims of domestic homicide each year in Scotland. As such the approach taken in Scotland is an inclusive one which will include victims of all genders.
• domestic abuse competent - understanding that abuse can take many forms, recognising the gendered nature of domestic abuse, understanding the impact on victims and children, the complexity of victims’ needs, and understanding how to respond appropriately

Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Taskforce

The taskforce is responsible for the following:

• overseeing and driving forward work to develop and ensure the timely delivery of a national domestic homicide and suicide review model in line with evidence and best practice that is reflective of the operating context within Scotland
• working closely and collaboratively with multi-agency partners to ensure the development, testing and implementation of a robust, fit for purpose domestic homicide and suicide review model for Scotland
• ensuring a person-centred, trauma-informed approach to the development of the national domestic homicide and suicide review model, particularly when considering the role of family and friends
• seeking additional expert advice from wider partners and subject matter experts as required
• ensuring the model is in line with data protection and information governance legislation
• developing an effective monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure the effectiveness of the model once implemented

Evidence Base

A package of evidence was brought together to inform the work of the taskforce and this continues to be added to as the work to develop the model progresses. The package of evidence includes learning from jurisdictions across the UK and internationally comprising of International Comparator Research by Scottish Government and Learning from Domestic Homicide Reviews produced by the University of Edinburgh which considered how domestic homicide and domestic abuse related suicide review models operate in other countries and what can be learned from them. Building on this a further paper was developed by the Scottish Government that focused on domestic homicide reviews and identifying best practice in learning lessons and implementing change.

The views of taskforce members also forms part of the evidence base. Taskforce members were issued with an online questionnaire to seek views on key aspects of the review model. The outcomes of the questionnaire were published in a report and the findings were used to inform a workshop held in February 2023. Members considered the purpose, principles and scope of a Scottish model at a workshop. facilitated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Following the workshop Healthcare Improvement Scotland produced and published a report on the outcomes of the workshop.

In 2023, the Scottish Government undertook a programme of consultation and targeted engagement to inform the development of review model for Scotland. Views were sought from those 18 years old and over with lived experience of domestic abuse and those bereaved by it, those working within the field of domestic abuse, for example, police, victim support organisations, social services, health services , and those working in the domestic abuse field who also have lived experience. Views were sought on six fundamental aspects of the review model which included the types of deaths and events that should be included within the model scope and whether or not the model should be underpinned by legislation. The findings were published in the following report Domestic Homicide Reviews: Consultation Analysis Report which informed the next steps which were set out by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs in a summary poster.

The evidence base, including the findings from the consultation and targeted engagement and the Cabinet Secretary's response to the findings, has collectively helped to develop the national domestic homicide and suicide review model for Scotland. In gaining clarity on a number of fundamental aspects of the review model from the consultation findings and wider evidence base, a Model Development Subgroup and four Task and Finish groups were established to develop the detail of the review model. 

Members

Chair

• Anna Donald, Deputy Director Criminal Justice Division, Scottish Government

Deputy Chair

• Vicky Carmichael, Team Leader, Violence Against Women and Girls Justice Unit, Criminal Justice Division, Scottish Government

Members

• Ann Fehilly, Head of Strategic Services, ASSIST
• Ann Hayne, Gender Based Violence Manager, NHS Lanarkshire / Deputy for Director of Public Health representative  
• Dr Claire Houghton, Gender, Violence and Families Lecturer University of Edinburgh
• Dr Duncan Alcock, Associate Medical Director, The State Hospital
• Deborah Demick, Deputy Head National Homicide Unit, COPFS
• Dr Edward Doyle, Senior Medical Advisor, Scottish Government
• Dr Emma Fletcher, Director of Public Health, NHS Tayside
• Dr Emma Forbes, National Procurator Fiscal for Domestic Abuse and Head of Victims and Witnesses Policy Team, COPFS
• Faith Currie, Deputy Head Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit, COPFS 
• Fiona Drouet, Founder and CEO, EmilyTest
• Giri Polubothu, CEO, Shakti Women’s Aid
• Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Grant, Head of Public Protection, Police Scotland
• Graham Roberston, Head of Public Protection, Community Justice Division, Scottish Government
• Iris Quar, Services Manager, Abused Men in Scotland
• Dr James Rowlands, Assistant Professor in Sociology, Durham University (and practising DHR chair in England and Wales)
• Jeff Gibbons, Unit Head, Violence Against Women and Girls Justice, Criminal Justice Division, Scottish Government
• Jess Denniff, Head of SafeLives Scotland
• Joanna MacDonald, Deputy Chief Social Work Advisor, Scottish Government 
• Professor John Devaney, Dean and Head of the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh and Model Development Subgroup Chair
• Karyn McCluskey, Chief Executive, Community Justice Scotland
• Kate Wallace, Chief Executive, Victim Support Scotland 
• Katie Brown, Equally Safe Policy Manager, COSLA
• Laura Mahon, Deputy Chief Executive, Alcohol Focus Scotland
• Lorraine Hall, Director of Human Resources, NHS Shetland
• Dr Lynne Taylor, Principle Psychology Advisor, Scottish Government
• Dr Marsha Scott, Chief Executive, Scottish Women’s Aid
• Michael Crook, Drugs Policy Team Leader, Scottish Government
• Dr Nel Whiting, Team Leader, Violence Against Women and Girls Equalities, Scottish Government
• Sarah Dangar, Doctoral Researcher, City St George's, University of London
• Sarah Holmes, Head of Information Assurance, COPFS
• Tamsyn Wilson, Social Researcher, Justice Analytical Services, Scottish Government
• Vivien Thomson, Social Work Scotland

Taskforce policy and project team

• Laura-Isabella Muresanu, Senior Policy Officer, Violence Against Women and Girls (Criminal Justice Division), Scottish Government
• Jude Thomson, Senior Policy Officer, Violence Against Women and Girls (Criminal Justice Division), Scottish Government
• Vicky Carmichael, Team Leader, Violence Against Women and Girls (Criminal Justice Division), Scottish Government

Related groups

Help and support

If you have been affected by anything on this page and would like support you can contact the Scottish Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline.

Publications