It was crime novelist P.D. James who said that the detective story is less about murder than the restoration of order. There is much truth in this. Detective drama is a mainstay of our entertainment, and the most successful formula sees the tenacious detective catch the killer against all odds.
These fictional detectives have varying flaws and skills, but they all want that killer brought to justice. And we root for that detective, feeling safe in the knowledge that things will resolve, because the stakes are so high. We have to believe that of all the injustices and crimes we may suffer, at least we are protected from that one, because we believe that all but the most determined killers will be caught.
Criminologist, Professor David Wilson, said that “people imagine that all murders will be treated the same, but in my experience, this isn’t the case”. He is right, and when we consider the deaths from domestic abuse, we cannot be so comfortable that our systems are working. It is well reported that two women a week lose their lives to domestic homicide, but this isn’t even the whole picture.
Suicides related to domestic abuse have only recently been counted, though estimates have suggested anywhere between three and nine women every week. There are also the so-called hidden homicides, these are even more difficult to count as they are recorded as falls, accidents, or misadventure, for example.
For over a decade I have been looking at these deaths, and I estimate there could be an additional two women being killed every week and their deaths not seen as suspicious, despite those suspicions being raised. The numbers of domestic abuse related fatalities, if we counted all the impacts, could then be as many as ten a week or more.
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This is a problem recognised internationally, and campaigners in the United States are lobbying for legislation to improve policy and practice at scenes of domestic abuse-related sudden death, and especially scenes of suicides where there may be domestic abuse.
In the UK, coroners have been making decisions that explicitly link domestic abuse and suicide – see findings in the cases of Jessica Laverack, Kellie Sutton, Roisin Hunter Bennett and Jill Parton.
The findings from the coroner in the death of Daniela Espirito Santo are also very interesting, as well as the conviction for manslaughter in the suicide of Justene Reece. The National Police Chiefs Council stated that Violence Against Women and Girls is a national emergency and pledged that police will relentlessly pursue the perpetrators.
Relentless pursuit may be what is needed, and criminologists will tell you that it is the surety of being held to account that best prevents crime, and not simply the severity of the sentences we impose. The Office of National Statistics reports, however, that less than five per cent of recorded domestic abuse offences in 2023 resulted in a conviction – that does not suggest that there is surety of being held to account, quite the opposite.
There are some uncomfortable truths that we must accept if we are to stem the tide of violence and homicide towards women and girls. There is still a belief that domestic abuse is about arguing and the dynamics of the people in the relationship, and this suggests equal responsibility between the two. Two judges have said to me that coercive control is a matter of common sense with no real need for expert testimony in court.
This low opinion of domestic abuse reflects its low status as a real crime. It’s not just about two people arguing, it’s about the systematic control and subjugation of a partner through tactics that can include, for example, violence, financial abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, surveillance and rule setting.
The entitlement to control that perpetrators believe in, comes in large part from culture and society. We make excuses for the behaviours, we sympathise with the perpetrators, we protect them by treating accusations from victims with scepticism, we blame the victims for their abuse and even their own deaths.
Yvette Cooper said that misogyny is a harmful ideology that is on the rise. Misogyny is an ideology that infiltrates every level of our justice system, it’s so powerful we often call it an unconscious bias impacting decision making at crime scenes, police call-outs, coronial processes, and trials. So maybe, it is not that order breaks down if we don’t hold these killers and abusers to account as P.D. James suggests, but in the context of domestic abuse and coercive control, it’s that order might break down if we did.
That’s why I am supporting The Independent’s Brick by Brick campaign.
The Brick by Brick campaign provides safe housing for survivors of abuse and it’s something we shouldn’t need, but do urgently need. This campaign building safe spaces for women escaping abusers to live and raising awareness of the wider problem of domestic abuse is absolutely crucial. We need the messages to be big and powerful and when a publication like The Independent gets involved, people start to listen, and this is needed, as this is an issue that affects everyone.
Professor Jane Monckton Smith is a forensic criminologist specialising in homicide, suicide, coercive control and stalking
Please donate now to the Brick by Brick campaign, launched by The Independent and charity Refuge, to help raise £300,000 to build a safe space for women where they can escape domestic abuse, rebuild their lives and make new futures.
Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
