UK Domestic Abuse Reviews: A Seven-Year Wait for Justice

Just 1% of domestic abuse death reviews completed on time in UK, BBC finds Beverley, East Yorkshire – A BBC News investigation has revealed that a mere 1% of reviews into domestic abuse-related deaths and suicides in England and Wales are completed within the six-month timeframe set by the government. This shocking statistic is brought into sharp focus by the case of Jessica Loverack, who took her own life in Beverley, East Yorkshire, in 2018. Seven years later, her mother, Phyllis Daly, is still waiting for the results of the review into her daughter's death. "It was bad enough losing my daughter, but to think it was all in vain, nobody was going to learn by this... I thought it was going to pinpoint where people could do jobs better, what could help the victims more," said Daly in an emotional interview with BBC News. The Home Office attributes the delays to factors such as ongoing court proceedings and lengthy police investigations. However, the government’s own target of six months is clearly not being met, leaving families like Daly's in prolonged anguish and uncertainty. The BBC's investigation underscores the urgent need for improvements in the system to ensure timely and effective reviews, offering support and preventing future tragedies. The slow pace of reviews raises concerns about the effectiveness of current efforts to tackle domestic abuse in the UK.