Testing Scotland's proposed domestic homicide and Suicide review model: phase one report and SG response

2. Background

The Scottish Government introduced the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill (the Bill) in the Scottish Parliament on 24 September 2024. Part 2 of the Bill sets out a statutory framework for a national system of Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews. The purpose of such reviews would be to identify what lessons can be learned following a death where abuse is known or suspected, with the aim of helping to prevent future abuse and deaths.

The Bill includes provisions:

• defining and setting out the scope of domestic homicide and suicide reviews (e.g. the types of relationships covered);
• allowing for the establishment of relevant bodies (a Review Oversight Committee and Case Review Panels) to carry out the work involved in reviews;
• setting out how those bodies will get the cooperation and information they need;
• seeking to ensure that reviews do not prejudice other investigations or proceedings (e.g. any criminal prosecution); and
• that require review reports and responses to review reports.^[1]

The development of a Domestic Homicide Review model is a commitment within the Equally Safe Delivery Plan, co-owned by COSLA^[2] and Scottish Government. This was further strengthened in the Scottish Government’s 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 Programme for Government.

Work on developing the proposals in this part of the Bill has been informed by the Scottish Government led Domestic Homicide and Suicide Review Taskforce^[3],a consultation targeted at those with lived experience of domestic abuse and those working in the field^[4] and ongoing engagement with relevant stakeholders from across Scotland, the UK and internationally.