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Review highlights the importance of routine enquiry to identify potential domestic abuse

A Domestic Abuse Related Death Review*(DARDR) into the death of Simon (pseudonym) has today been published by the Norfolk Community Safety Partnership (NCSP) to enable lessons to be learned and shared as widely and thoroughly as possible to reduce the risk of such tragedies happening in the future.

Simon was 42 when he took his own life in January 2022. As an allegation was made by Simon’s family suggesting that his partner had been abusive to him throughout their relationship, it was decided that undertaking a DARDR was appropriate.

The learning coming from the review highlighted that despite having significant contact with healthcare professionals and counsellors, there were no records of Simon being asked about his feelings of safety, nor did domestic abuse feature as part of routine screening or questioning. 

The review highlighted the importance of completing Equalities Impact Assessments to inform strategy and service provision and shone a light on the intersection of sexuality and gender in respect of domestic abuse and suicide rates in the gay community, reinforcing a need to raise awareness of domestic abuse in gay male relationships.

The Partnership has developed an action plan to deliver on all the recommendations detailed in the report and these will continue to be progressed and reviewed by the partnership.

Mark Stokes, Chair of the Norfolk Community Safety Partnership said: “The Review Panel and the members of the Norfolk Community Safety Partnership would like to offer their sincere condolences to Simon’s family and friends. 

This review has been undertaken in order that lessons can be learned and shared from this tragedy and we appreciate the information provided by Simon’s family.”

Mark Brooks, Chair, ManKind Initiative, said: “It is vitally important that we all take a broader view around the impact that men, including in same-sex relationships, when there are signs of distress. We should not gloss over them and be more attuned to this. By doing so, it will encourage more men to reach out for support. As we see in the tragic situation highlighted in this review, it can make all the difference.”

> The full DARDR into the death of Simon can be found here

*A Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR), formerly known as a Domestic Homicide Review, is a locally conducted, multi-agency review of the circumstances in which the death of a person aged 16 or over has, or appears to have, resulted from violence, abuse or neglect by a relative, partner or member of the same household. DARDRs were established on a statutory basis by the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004.

A DARDR panel consists of key members of staff from statutory, non-statutory, third sector and charitable agencies who provide support for victims of domestic abuse. Working together in this way will ensure the voice of the victim is addressed through the lessons learnt and recommendations of this DARDR.

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