Coercive and controlling behaviour leading to suicides

There are more suicides than homicides. Why isn’t more being done?

Domestic Abuse Related Suicide Leaflet Image

Bereaved families from diverse backgrounds have come together with Project Resist to build a campaign demanding justice for loved ones who have taken their lives in the context of domestic abuse (including coercive and controlling behaviour). Testimonies from the families highlight systemic and ongoing failures on the part of the police, the wider criminal justice system and other agencies: failures to investigate their loved ones’ domestic abuse related suicides as potential homicides, in addition to failures to adequately protect and support them whilst alive.

Read More about the Campaign

Featured

Domestic Homicides and Suspected Victim Suicides 2020-2024 Animation

The fourth annual report from the national Domestic Homicide Project which works across England and Wales was published in March 2025. The report examines all deaths identified by police as domestic abuse related to improve understanding of risk indicators, victim, and perpetrator demographics. The unique dataset collects detailed information on these deaths not available from any other source to help police and partners improve their response to domestic abuse, domestic homicide and victim suicide following domestic abuse.

The Domestic Homicides animation, which draws on data from 2020-2024, has been released to distil the key insights and findings to audiences in a simplified and easily understandable format.

Watch the Video - YouTube

Mum of woman who took own life after 'horrific' domestic abuse calls for law change

Jessica Laverack was a talented hairdresser who travelled the world with her job. “She had a very privileged life. She had horses and she did lots of social activities," explains her mum Phyllis Daly, 67.

"She just had the most affectionate and fun nature. She was so bright, bubbly, but her personality changed completely.”

Read More - Mirror.co.uk

Visit Jessica’s Page

Domestic abuse victim received messages in psychiatric hospital telling her to kill herself

Reporting of Ashleigh Inskip’s case comes as the National Police Chiefs’ Council said figures showed that the number of suicides following domestic abuse continue to be higher than killings in relationships.

A young mother took her own life after her abusive ex-partner bombarded her with messages urging her to kill herself – including while she was sectioned in a psychiatric hospital, Channel 4 News can reveal.

Read More - Channel 4

Visit Ashleigh’s Page

‘Failed in life and death’: Mums of women who died by suicide after domestic abuse call for change

Jessie Laverack. Kiena Dawes. Chloe Holland. Three women abused by their partners. Three women eventually driven to suicide.

“The perpetrators are to blame, but the professionals let them down,” Jessie’s mother tells ITV News.

Since her daughter’s death, Phyllis Daly has devoted her life to driving change. Today, ITV News joined Phyllis and the mothers of Kiena and Chloe as they lobbied the government directly.

In a meeting with Jess Phillips, the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women they told her the professionals "failed to support" their daughters.

Each of their stories are traumatic. In each case, the authorities had been made aware of claims of abuse.

Read More - ITV.com

Scale of homicide and suicides by domestic abuse victims revealed

New report shows scale of domestic homicides and for the first time recorded an increase in suspected suicides by domestic abuse victims.

The report examines all deaths identified by police as domestic abuse related to improve understanding of risk indicators, victim and perpetrator demographics. The unique dataset collects detailed information on these deaths not available from any other source to help police and partners improve their response to domestic abuse, domestic homicide and victim suicide following domestic abuse.

Read More - news.npcc.police.uk

The hidden death toll of domestic abuse: ‘There are more suicides than killings. Why isn’t more being done?’

More domestic abuse victims take their own lives than are killed by their tormentors, latest figures show, but perpetrators are rarely held to account for these deaths.

A grieving mother has said she is facing a “life sentence” after her daughter took her own life to escape her abusive ex-boyfriend – and warned that perpetrators are not being held to account.

Read More - Independent.co.uk

Visit Chloe’s Page

'Abuser should have been charged with killing our daughter'

The family of a young mum who took her own life following “horrendous” abuse by her partner say he should have been charged with killing her.

Demi Hannaway, 23, saved evidence of Andrew Brown's behaviour on her phone, which was not discovered until after she died in May 2021.

Brown, 33, was jailed for three-and-a-half years at Airdrie Sheriff Court earlier this month after admitting threatening and abusive behaviour.

The Crown Office said prosecutors take action where there is "sufficient evidence" and it is in the public interest.

Read More - BBC.co.uk

Visit Demi’s Page

'Evil' boyfriend, 26, whose girlfriend hanged herself after 'appalling' campaign of domestic abuse

A 'pure evil' boyfriend has been jailed after he ordered his girlfriend to self-harm and isolated her in such a shockingly cruel campaign of domestic abuse it 'absolutely destroyed her life' and she hanged herself.

Marc Masterton's 'despicable' psychological and physical assaults 'significantly contributed' to the 'demise' of Chloe Holland's mental health before she killed herself, a court heard.

Read More - dailymail.co.uk

Visit Chloe’s Page

Kellie Sutton: New inquest finds abuse victim unlawfully killed

The family of a woman who took her own life after domestic abuse said they had "fought for many years" for an inquest to rule she was unlawfully killed.

Kellie Sutton, 30, was found unconscious at the home she shared with partner Steven Gane in Welwyn Garden City on 23 August 2017.

A previous inquest at Hertfordshire Coroner's Court concluded she died by suicide, but this now been overturned.

Ms Sutton's family said the conclusion was "ground-breaking".

It is believed to be the first time an inquest has returned a conclusion of unlawful killing after a woman has taken her own life following domestic abuse.

Read More - bbc.co.uk

Visit Kellie’s Page

Kellie Sutton ruling, ‘very significant move’, says former victims commissioner

Channel 4 spoke to Dame Vera Baird who formerly served as Solicitor General for England Wales, Victims Commissioner and Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner.

Watch the Video on Channel4.com

Visit Kellie’s Page