Part 1: Victims of Criminal Conduct Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews Section 19: Establishment and conduct of domestic abuse related death reviews
This section inserts new section 8A of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 ("the 2004 Act").
	New section 8A provides for Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews to replace Domestic Homicide Reviews under section 9 of the 2004 Act in England and Wales. Reviews can be commissioned following a homicide, a victim taking their own life after experiencing domestic abuse or in circumstances that are unexplained but give rise to concern. The intention behind providing for Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews is to better reflect the range of deaths that are within scope of a review.
	The Secretary of State may direct a review to take place where a death of a person has, or appears to have, resulted from domestic abuse towards the person within the meaning of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. The definition of domestic abuse set out in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 includes controlling or coercive behaviour, emotional abuse and economic abuse. It also clarifies that domestic abuse happens between individuals who are ‘personally connected’ via intimate or family relationships. The intention behind providing for a Domestic Abuse Related Death Review to be considered when a death has or appears to have resulted from domestic abuse as defined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 is to ensure Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews contribute to better understanding of domestic abuse, as well as encourage consistency in decision making for reviews when domestic abuse has been identified.
	The section makes consequential provision to ensure that, in relation to Northern Ireland, domestic homicide reviews will continue to take place under section 9 of the 2004 Act.