Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs)

If person aged over 16 dies from or what appears to be from domestic violence and abuse from 10 December 2020, a Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) may be carried out. Any decision to carry out a DHR will be so lessons can be learned to improve services to victims.

Decision to carry out a DHR

A DHR may only be considered, with a view to identifying lessons to be learned, within the following circumstances:

if the deceased person is aged 16 or over
if the death has or appears to have resulted from violence, abuse or neglect
if you are related to the victim
if you were in an intimate personal relationship with the victim
if you lived in the same household as a victim

Who carries out a DHR

There are three Independent Chairs, one of which leads each review commissioned and produces a report, with the support of a multi-agency DHR Panel. The chairs are appointed by the Department of Justice and each are engaged for a period of three years.

The chairs will lead a panel of representatives from various agencies, including statutory, as well as voluntary and community sector, organisations.

The panel will support the chair to gather and review information pertinent to the case. Collectively they will identify any learning and the independent chair will write the report.

What happens when a DHR is taking place

Relevant information about the deceased person, and their close family and friends will be requested from a variety of sources as part of the review process.

This will include (but is not limited to) statutory bodies, friends and family, community and voluntary sector organisations.

The information provided will be handled sensitively and all panel representatives will be party to data sharing and confidentiality agreements for each review.

Involvement of family or friends

Family and friends of the deceased victim will be invited to take part in the process by the independent chair.

Friends and family don’t have to take part but taking part in the Review is encouraged as sometimes they can have important information about the nature and extent of abuse which may not have been shared with agencies.

More information

For more information, contact DHRs@dhrni.org.uk

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?

report a problem

leave feedback

ask a question

Report a problem

Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

A link, button or video is not working

There is a spelling mistake

Information is missing, outdated or wrong

I can't find what I'm looking for

Another issue

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

Tell us more about the problem you're having with the nidirect website.

Enter your feedback

What is your question about?

Choose a topic for your question:

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit. Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about your GRONI account, email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme, email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about 60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly. We don't have access to information about you.

Extra comments (optional)

Translation help

Select a language