Figures show rise in suicides after domestic abuse

Official figures reveal a notable increase in the number of domestic abuse victims who have died by suicide in England and Wales. In the year leading up to March 2025, approximately 150 such suicides were reported, compared to 98 in the previous year. These statistics were provided by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), which attributes the rise largely to better awareness and changes in how these cases are recorded.

The Domestic Homicide Project’s findings highlight that 8% of victims were between 16 and 24 years of age. For the first time, there was a case where both the victim and the suspect were under 18 years old. The report also pointed out that individuals aged 16 to 19 years experienced a disproportionately higher rate of domestic abuse victimization—18.2%—when compared to those aged 25 and above.

Louisa Rolfe, the NPCC national police lead for domestic abuse, suggested that harmful online content might be a contributing factor in domestic abuse cases involving teenagers. She commented, “People are now much more likely to access violent pornography which normalises violence and behaviour in a relationship. We see the connection between the sort of sense of toxic influencers online and their sort of views that are promoted about women and women’s status in society.”

The Domestic Homicide Project reported 347 deaths linked to domestic abuse in the twelve months up to March 2025, including 80 cases of intimate partner homicide. Over a five-year period, the project documented a total of 1,452 deaths related to domestic abuse. Women accounted for 73% of suicides, with most victims being ethnically white. Most suspects were male, many with previous police records. The increase in recorded suicides is partly due to a revised police procedure requiring officers to investigate any history of domestic abuse at scenes of suicides and unexpected deaths.

Dame Nicole Jacobs, the domestic abuse commissioner for England and Wales, criticized the existing systems, stating, “We know many of these victims will have been in contact with agencies numerous times before they died. It is inexcusable that more is not being done to ensure victims get the support and protection they need before it’s too late.” UK safeguarding minister Jess Phillips described all lives lost to domestic abuse as “devastating tragedies” and assured that the government is “deploying the full power of the state” to address these crimes and hold offenders accountable.

Police officers now must check for history of domestic abuse when investigating suicides and unexpected deaths. Meanwhile, campaigners are advocating for new legislation to categorize suicide following domestic abuse as a distinct criminal offense, separate from manslaughter

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