Murderers who kill a partner or ex-partner in their home could face an additional 10 years in prison as the government seeks to close a significant sentencing gap.
Currently, most domestic murders occurring at home, often with a weapon already present, have a 15-year sentencing starting point. In contrast, murders where a weapon is brought to the scene with intent carry a 25-year minimum sentence.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is now consulting with the Sentencing Council to bridge this 10-year difference, aiming to ensure domestic murders are treated with comparable severity.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said: “For centuries, the law failed to protect women from violence at the hands of their partner – whether from marital rape or from abuse behind closed doors.
“Whilst we’ve made significant progress, we need to continue righting these wrongs.
“This change closes a long overdue gap and will ensure those who murder their partner face sentences that better reflect the devastating harm they cause.”
More than a fifth of all murders are domestic, and overwhelmingly women are the victims in these cases, the MoJ said.
A 2022 study found that women were killed by men in over a quarter of all murder cases in England and Wales in recent years.
Research by the House of Commons library discovered women were the victims while men were the primary suspect in 28 per cent of all murder cases in the five years prior to the study.
The report found 2,350 homicides took place between April 2016 and March 2021 – with 668 of these cases being women murdered by men.
Between two and three women are murdered each week by their partners or ex-partners in England and Wales.
One in four women will suffer domestic abuse at some point during their lives – with domestic abuse having a higher rate of repeat victimisation than any other crime.
The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated men’s advice line on 0808 8010 327. Those in the US can call the domestic violence hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
