A hierarchy of testimony – The role of family, friends and community in Domestic Homicide Reviews

A Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) or Domestic Abuse Related Death Review (DARDR), whilst being a critical tool for learning about agency and societal responses to victims (and, in some cases, perpetrators) of domestic abuse, is so much more. These reviews offer a lasting narrative of individuals’ lives and deaths, and of the experiences of those that are left behind. The guidance states that families should be given the opportunity to be integral to reviews and should be treated as a key stakeholder. However, our pioneering research highlighted that, despite families and wider testimonial networks sharing valuable experiences, their insights often fail to translate into robust recommendations, underscoring a hierarchy of testimony that favours agency perspectives over those who personally knew the victim, and preventing vital learning from taking place.

Ciara Barrett Smith will share the findings from Findaway & AAFDA’s research into the role of families, friends, and wider networks in domestic abuse related death reviews. The research analysed 123 reviews, integrating insights from bereaved family members, DHR/DARDR chairs, and representatives from Community Safety Partnerships, to enhance understanding of the crucial role families and wider networks play in reviews, the barriers to engagement, and the potential for their contributions to inform meaningful recommendations. This webinar will also explore the critical role families, friends and communities play in supporting victims of domestic abuse and what services can do to support them earlier on.