Summary
BBC research shows that only 1% of domestic abuse-related death reviews in England and Wales are completed within the recommended six months. Families like Pauline Jones, whose daughter Bethany was killed, find the review process to be painfully slow, taking years rather than months, which they believe contributes to ongoing risk.
Key Facts
- Domestic abuse-related death reviews are meant to help prevent further deaths by analyzing how professionals handled cases before incidents happen.
- BBC analysis found that 99% of these reviews take longer than the recommended six months, often lasting years.
- Only 7 out of 495 reviews were finished in the recommended timeframe.
- Pauline Jones, whose daughter was killed by her former partner, experienced a review process that took nearly three years to complete.
- West Yorkshire Police admitted to failures in handling Bethany’s reports about her killer before her death.
- In Yorkshire and Humber, 97% of reviews were not completed within the six-month guideline.
- Delays in reviews are attributed to complex police investigations, legal processes, and the need to involve family members and other parties.
