A report published by The Domestic Homicide Project discovered 62 people died at the hands of a family member and 103 people were killed by an intimate partner in 2021-22, a 55% increase.
The report also looked at domestic violence victims who died by suicide and found almost a quarter of the 370 domestic deaths reported in the last two years were suicides of people who had experienced domestic abuse.
Coercive and controlling behaviour was a core risk factor in both intimate partner homicide and suspected victim suicide cases, the report found. Lead author Dr Lis Bates said it was “vital” police and partner agencies tackle such abuse.
