Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews in Scotland: Statutory Guidance

Section 8 – Engagement with Family, Friends, Colleagues and Communities

Families, friends, colleagues and members of the community are integral to the review process. Each hold unique insights about the victim – and often the perpetrator – that when combined can provide the Case Review Panel with a more complete understanding of the circumstances surrounding a victim’s life and experience.

8.1. Engaging with Family, Friends, Colleagues and Communities: Point of Contact

At the point a Case Review Panel Chair is assigned a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review, the Case Review Panel Chair will contact the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) and where relevant, the Family Liaison Officer (FLO) or other relevant authority (e.g. if there has been a death abroad). The Case Review Panel Chair will explain that a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review, or where relevant, a joint review is being undertaken and that they are the Chair of the review.

The Case Review Panel Chair and Senior Investigating Officer will discuss the case and any pertinent points such as family dynamics. The Case Review Panel Chair will ensure the Senior Investigating Officer is aware of the proposed next steps for the domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review including the intention to make the family aware that a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review has been established, where appropriate.

In the period following a death there is likely to be a number of individuals and support services in contact with a family. Through discussions with the Senior Investigating Officer and Single Points of Contact, the Case Review Panel Chair will take this into consideration when writing to a family. It is important that the family are notified of the review at the earliest opportunity, that they know who the Case Review Panel Chair is, that they are provided with information on the review process and are offered a dedicated advocate.

The Secretariat will arrange for a letter from the Case Review Panel Chair to be sent to the family that will set out that a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review has been established and that for the review the Case Review Panel Chair is the family’s Single Point of Contact. The letter will also note that an advocate will be provided should they wish and that a dedicated advocate for children is also available, where relevant. The relevant leaflets in relation to the process will be also be provided. The letter will outline that the Case Review Panel Chair will be in contact by phone to discuss further and arrange a meeting if the family would like to meet the Chair.

There may be occasions where it won’t be possible or appropriate to contact a family e.g. there may not be any family members to contact. Given the timing of the reviews, the Case Review Panel Chair will be guided by police and/ or relevant others on when and how to contact families.

The Case Review Panel Chair will be the named, trusted point of contact for families in relation to a review. However, a family may choose to engage through an advocate or have another trusted support worker to be the point of contact for the domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review. What is key from a review perspective is that there is an agreed understanding on the wishes of the family throughout the process.

The Case Review Panel Chair and Secretariat will ensure that important information such as how information will be used is explained. Those engaging in the review process will be made aware that should they change their mind and no longer wish to participate in the review, their decision will be respected. However, families will be advised that they will be contacted following preparation of the draft report and invited to discuss the contents, learning, recommendations and actions. There is no requirement for families to engage but the offer will be made where appropriate.

Engagement must be planned in trauma-informed stages and remain sensitive to the individual needs, pace, and preferences of families, friends, colleagues and community members. This is to minimise the number of persons contacting bereaved family members following a death and to support meaningful engagement.

Family, friends, colleagues and members of the community who choose to engage in a review, may change their minds at any point in the review process. They can change the level of their involvement with a review or withdraw from the process and that will be respected. If they later choose to re-engage in the review process they can do so.

Where a meeting with bereaved family members, friends, colleagues or members of the community is arranged, the Case Review Panel Chair should ordinarily be accompanied by a member of the Secretariat. The presence of the Secretariat is intended to support the Chair, ensure clarity and consistency in the information shared, and assist with accurately recording any questions, concerns, or information provided by the family. They can also be an additional point of information and can help support the views, wishes and preferences of families and others in relation to the review, advocacy and support, and can help to coordinate for example, a meeting between the family and the Case Review Panel.

This approach also helps to maintain continuity, manage expectations about the scope and purpose of the review, and reduce the need for families to repeat information. Any meeting with family members should be conducted in a manner that is compassionate, respectful, and proportionate, with a clear explanation of the role of the Case Review Panel Chair, the Secretariat, and how family engagement will be supported throughout the review process.

8.2. Family Engagement: Information and Support

All bereaved families are to receive accessible information on:

• The purpose, scope, and limitations of a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review
• The process stages and expected timelines
• The role they may play, and the voluntary nature of their involvement

Information should be delivered using plain English, available in a variety of formats and languages, and accessible for people with additional communication needs.

Families’ participation must be informed and consensual and accompanied by proactive offers of independent advocacy. Advocacy will be offered as standard practice.

Advocacy provided will be:

• Independent from statutory bodies and the review process
• Centred on empowering the family
• Available throughout the domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review and in post-review stages
• Flexible to cultural and individual family contexts

Advocates will support families to understand the process, express concerns, contribute to the domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review, interpret findings, and engage with final reports. Families will have the option to meet with the Case Review Panel should they wish to. This can be arranged through the advocate.

8.3. Review Participation: Information and Support for Children

Following a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide, bereaved children should be referred to an Interagency Referral Discussion involving police, health and social work at a minimum as core Interagency Referral Discussion partners. During the Interagency Referral Discussion, alongside immediate safety planning, consideration will be given to what support is necessary for the child(ren).

It is key that any support offered is child-centred and based on their individual needs recognising that there is not one support service that suits all children. Where a child has experienced significant harm, this support could be delivered or coordinated by a Bairns’ Hoose or by an alternative local support service. In providing an integrated, rights-based model of care that will prioritise safety, recovery, and participation, Bairns’ Hoose is well-placed to ensure that bereaved children who have experienced significant harm receive the support they need to recover from the trauma they have experienced and to respond to the child’s needs as they change over time.

In addition to the support that is provided to a child following a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide, dedicated domestic homicide and suicide review advocacy will be available which includes trauma therapy and support for the child(ren) and their carers. Where a child chooses to participate in a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review and in accordance with the protocol, they should be supported to do so. Engagement must be:

• Voluntary, person-centred and rights-based
• Developmentally appropriate
• Supported by an independent advocate for children
• Framed with clear boundaries around expectations, scope, and support before, during, and after participation

Information for children and their carers should be made available following a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide. Information will be available to services for them to provide and discuss with bereaved family members. Where there are conflicting family views, these will be managed sensitively by the Case Review Panel Chair.

8.4. Friends, Colleagues and Community Members

In addition to the involvement of families, the engagement of friends, colleagues and community members is likely to further strengthen a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review.

Prior to the Case Review Panel Chair arranging to meet with friends, colleagues and community members, a discussion must be had with Police Scotland and COPFS. If there is to be a criminal trial, some individuals may be cited as witnesses. However, where feasible friends, colleagues and members of the community including neighbours should be given the opportunity to participate in a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review.

Where agreement with COPFS has been provided, the relevant information leaflet should be sent and a follow up call by the Case Review Panel Chair should take place before arranging a meeting. Where a meeting is to be arranged, the Secretariat will attend to support the Case Review Panel Chair. The Case Review Panel Chair and Secretariat will ensure that important information is provided such as how information supplied to the review will be used. Those engaging in the review process will be made aware that should they change their mind and state that they no longer wish to participate in the review, their choice will be respected. However, the Case Review Panel Chair will highlight that they will reach out again prior to the review report being finalised to check whether their view has changed and offer the opportunity to engage.

8.5. Hierarchy of Testimony

The Case Review Panel Chair and members are not to create a ‘hierarchy of testimony’ to different individuals and agencies participating within a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review, i.e. different weighting is not to be given to statutory organisations, voluntary organisations and the expertise provided by families, friends and other important participants. The input of families, friends and community members may add empirical information to the review as well as context.

8.6. Perpetrator Involvement

The timescales between a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide notification or referral, and a decision being reached on whether a death is reviewable and whether to undertake a review, should be no more than two months. It is therefore unlikely that where there are to be criminal proceedings, that the Case Review Panel Chair will be able to meet with the accused.

A discussion with COPFS would be required who would advise accordingly. It may be more appropriate for consideration to be given following the outcome of a criminal trial to whether thematic learning can be gained through interviewing perpetrators who have been convicted. The intention would be to understand their experiences of engaging with services or seeking support prior to the domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide and consider what learning there may be for services.

If engagement of this nature was to proceed, careful consideration would be required. In addition to discussions with COPFS, discussions with the Scottish Prison Service would also be required where the perpetrator was serving a custodial sentence. Should engagement be agreed to, the perpetrator can choose not to be interviewed, and their choice will be respected.

Families, friends, and others who knew the perpetrator can provide essential insights into the relationships, behaviours, and where known, services they were in contact with. The participation of the perpetrator’s family and friends should be sought sensitively, with clear explanation of the purpose and process of the review and with opportunities to contribute in a manner that feels safe and supported.

8.7. Risk

The Case Review Panel should consider the safety and wellbeing of those involved in a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review. A risk assessment is to be undertaken by the Case Review Panel for each review. The Secretariat will liaise with Police Scotland and COPFS and also relevant Single Points of Contact. Each review report that is submitted to the Review Oversight Committee for quality assurance and publication consideration is to be accompanied with a corresponding risk assessment. The Review Oversight Committee will consider each assessment of risk and will provide a summary to COPFS when seeking agreement to publish a report. Whilst a person may be considered a ‘perpetrator’ for the purposes of a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review, there may not be any criminal charges or proceedings and therefore there may be a risk to associated family members, friends and children. As such, careful consideration is required in each review.

8.8. Review Participation Process

The review must be structured around transparency, honesty, and trust. Families and friends must be clearly informed of:

• The different purposes of a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review, and a criminal investigation
• What a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review can and cannot deliver
• The opportunity to shape the review and respond to findings

Those involved in a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review should be supported through:

• Early and regular communication
• Tailored updates
• Visual tools such as process flowcharts, panel member biographies, timelines, and glossaries

Participation must be flexible. Families can define the level, format, and frequency of their engagement. Emotional and psychological safety is paramount. Participation must never be tokenistic, and the emotional labour of sharing must be recognised and supported.

Cultural sensitivity must underpin engagement. This includes:

• Recognising differences in what constitutes ‘family’
• Using translation and interpretation services where needed
• Drawing on local knowledge and culturally grounded support models where relevant

8.9. Review Participants’ Experience

There is no requirement for families, friends, colleagues or members of the community to provide feedback on their experience of engaging in a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review. However, where appropriate, feedback should be sought from families on their experience of the review process. This should be gathered through:

• Anonymous and confidential surveys
• One-to-one debriefs
• Group feedback sessions, where appropriate
• Through a support organisation or advocate the family is being supported by
• Any other means by which families would like to provide feedback

Learning from family (participant) feedback will form part of the review of the statutory guidance and the review model process. The Secretariat will:

• Monitor participant satisfaction and accessibility
• Monitor timescales for each aspect of the review process
• Report on improvements made as a result
• Ensure visibility of changes enacted following feedback

Families’ engagement in a review must be acknowledged. Families must also be kept updated on implementation of recommendations (if they choose to be kept updated). Their experience of engagement in the review process should also inform broader workforce development, including training in trauma-informed, culturally competent, and inclusive practice.