Key facts
- Offenders in England and Wales who kill current or ex-partners will face a new minimum sentence of 25 years.
- This represents an increase of 10 years from the current typical starting point for domestic murders.
- The change is driven by a campaign from mothers of victims of domestic homicide.
- The government aims to halve violence against women and girls with this initiative.
- The proposal is subject to consultation with the sentencing council.
Offenders in England and Wales who kill their current or ex-partner will face a minimum of 25 years in prison, an increase of 10 years, under plans announced by Justice Secretary David Lammy. This change aims to address a perceived disparity where domestic murders, often committed with weapons already present in the home, have historically carried a lower starting point than murders involving weapons brought to the scene.
The announcement follows a seven-year campaign by the mothers of victims, including Carole Gould, Julie Devey, and Elaine Newborough, who have advocated for sentences that better reflect the severity of domestic homicides. Lammy stated that the change closes a long-overdue gap and ensures sentences align with the harm caused, paying tribute to the mothers' advocacy.
The proposed increase is part of the government's broader commitment to reducing violence against women and girls. While welcomed by domestic abuse charities like Refuge and the domestic abuse commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs, concerns were raised about the exclusion of victims killed by family members and the need to review partial defences leading to manslaughter convictions. Mark Day, from the Prison Reform Trust, cautioned that the move could exacerbate pressure on an already strained prison system.