Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews in Scotland: Protocol
The protocol sets out the arrangements that are to be followed to help prevent Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews causing prejudice to criminal investigations, other investigations, criminal proceedings, a Fatal Accident Inquiry or a public inquiry which Scottish Ministers are solely responsible.
9. Seeking Lord Advocate approval to expand a domestic homicide or suicide review beyond the point of death
The death notification template includes questions in relation to bereaved young people (those under 18 years old or 26 if previously looked after and accommodated), an adult at risk or a young person who at the time of the death was living within the same household as person A (perpetrator) or B (victim).
These questions are included within the templates to support the Review Oversight Committee in its considerations of whether a reviewable death where a domestic homicide or suicide review is to be undertaken, should be expanded beyond the point of death. Such an expansion is only possible where the perpetrator/ alleged perpetrator and victim (person A and B) were partners or ex-partners and either or both of person A and B at the time of the death had a child who was a young person (as above) or an adult at risk, or had a young person not classed as their child living within their household.
Section 20 makes provision for a review to be expanded where the Review Oversight Committee determine that there is learning to be gained in relation to bereaved young persons and/ or adults at risk. Such learning seeks to gain greater insights into decisions made in relation to those persons after the death, the support they received and whether the opportunity was given for them to express their views on matters relating to them such as who they live with.
In deciding whether a review should be expanded beyond the point of death, the Review Oversight Committee should consider each young person/ adult at risk and each matter in relation to which the review may be expanded separately (see section 20(3) and (4) of the 2025 Act). Where the Review Oversight Committee decides that any expansion is appropriate, it must seek approval from the Lord Advocate. Requests to expand a review are to be provided in writing by the Secretariat on behalf of the Review Oversight Committee Chair.
Contact
Email: dhsrmodel@gov.scot