Reviewing in a pandemic? A commentary on COVID-19 and domestic homicide review
| Date | 17 June 2022 |
| Pages | 201-204 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-02-2022-0693 |
| Published date | 17 June 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression,conflict & peace,Sociology,Gender studies,Gender violence,Political sociology,policy & social change,Social conflicts,War/peace |
| Author | James Rowlands |
Reviewing in a pandemic? A commentary
on COVID-19 and domestic homicide
review
James Rowlands
Abstract
Purpose –This paper is a commentaryon COVID-19’s impact on Domestic Homicide Reviews(DHRs),
the systemin England and Wales that enables learningfrom domestic abuse-related deaths.
Design/methodology/approach –Drawing on a practitioner–researcher perspective, this paper
reflects on how COVID-19affected the delivery and experience of DHRs, the place of victims at the heart
of this processand what the pandemic’s impact mightmean moving forward.
Findings –This paper explicatessome of the challenges of undertaking DHRs ina pandemic. Critically,
however,it argues that these challenges illuminatebroader questions about the practiceof DHR.
Originality/value –This paper’s originalitycomes from the author’s practitioner–researcherperspective
and its use of COVID-19as a lens to consider DHRs.
Keywords COVID-19, Domestic abuse, Domestic homicide, Domestichomicide review,
Domestic violence fatality review, Partnership
Paper type Viewpoint
In England and Wales, as globally, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted concernsabout
domestic abuse (Kourti et al.,2021). In particular, that domestic abuse-related deaths
might increase. Subsequently, while domestic abuse-related deaths do not appear to
have increased substantially, that concern highlights how such deaths remain tragically far
too common (Bates et al.,2021). Moreover, the pandemic did affect the conduct of
“Domestic Homicide Reviews” (DHRs), the system in England and Wales that enables
learning from domestic abuse-related deaths, and which is an example of what is known
internationally as “Domestic Violence Fatality Review” (DVFR). This commentary reflects on
COVID-19’s impact on, and implicationsfor, DHRs.
Background
Introduced in England and Wales in 2011, a DHR should be commissioned by the relevant
local Community Safety Partnership (CSP) when a domestic abuse-related death occurs
(Home Office, 2016). DHRs are a collaborative process during which an independent chair
leads a review panel comprised of statutory and non-governmental agencies. Those who
knew a victim (“testimonial networks”) may also be involved, notably family, but also
perhaps others like friends (Haines-Delmont et al.,2022). An independent chair usually acts
as an intermediary for testimonial networks, but sometimes a family meets the review panel.
Over several meetings, information from these stakeholders is brought together and used
by the independent chair and the review panel to build a picture of the case, evaluate any
interventions, identify any learning and make recommendations for change. DHR/DVFR
aims to prevent future deaths (Dawson,2021).
James Rowlands is based
at the Department of
Sociology, University of
Sussex School of Law
Politics and Sociology,
Brighton, UK.
Received 22 February 2022
Revised 20 May 2022
2 June 2022
Accepted 2 June 2022
With thanks to the anonymous
reviewers for their comments.
This work was supported by the
Economic and Social Research
Council (grant number:
ES/P00072X/1).
DOI 10.1108/JACPR-02-2022-0693 VOL. 15 NO. 3 2023, pp. 201-204, ©Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599 jJOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICT AND PEACE RESEARCH jPAG E 201
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