“Nineteen More Child Homicides” – A call for urgent change in family and child law

Written by: Abbey McElroy and Deepa Patel

Legally reviewed by: Ravi Kaur Mahey Jul 2025 In: Child Care

The following article, “Nineteen More Child Homicides”, has been written by Cartwright King’s Child Law Solicitors, Abbey McElroy and Deepa Patel.

On 19^th June 2025, Women’s Aid, published a 65-page report entitled ‘Nineteen More Child Homicides’.

A link to the report is as follows:- Child-Homicides-2025-Web-Final.pdf

In summary, this report is a stark reminder of the life and death consequences of decisions made within the Family Justice System. The report published by Women’s Aid details the deaths of 19 children between the periods of 2015 – 2024, through child contact with a parent who was a known perpetrator of domestic abuse.

For lawyers practising in Family and Childcare law, this report is not just a call to gain awareness, but it is a call to implement urgent change.

What were the key findings?

The key findings detailed at page 19 of the report, are as follows: –

In 18 families, 19 children were killed by perpetrators of domestic abuse who had access to these children through formal or informal contact arrangements.

There were 28 deaths in total, 27 of which occurred in the 18 families: 19, children, 3 mothers, 2 dogs, and 3 perpetrators who committed suicide. Another female survivor was also killed by one of the perpetrators after he had already killed two of his children and attempted to kill another.

17 of the 18 perpetrators were men, and 15 out of these 17 men were the fathers to the children that were killed. The remaining 2 men were fathers to other children in the family and killed these children through formal or informal contact arrangements which were in place through their biological children who lived with the child/ren they killed. In one case the perpetrator was female and mother to the child who was killed.

There were at least 44 children of the mothers and fathers in these 18 case studies. This means that through these homicides, 24 children lost a sibling, and 6 children lost both a parent and a sibling.

In 12 cases, the perpetrator was found guilty of murder. In the 3 cases where the perpetrator was found guilty of manslaughter, the children had died because of the perpetrator’s violent physical abuse, and in two of these cases the original charge had been murder.

What does this mean for family and childcare lawyers?

Prioritise Safety Over Contact: Challenge the presumption that the involvement of each parent in the life of the child concerned will further the child’s welfare. This is especially important if there is a history of domestic abuse. Campaigners and practitioners should argue that the burden of proof should fall to the abusive parent to prove that contact is safe, rather than a victim parent having to prove that contact is unsafe.
Use the Law Proactively: Leverage tools such as Practice Direction 12J, FPR Part 25, and Section 91(14) of the Children Act 1989 to prevent abusive litigation and ensure robust safeguarding.
Train and Educate: Stay informed about the dynamics of domestic abuse, especially coercive control. The report found a widespread lack of understanding of coercive control and how perpetrators used child contact as a tool to manipulate professionals. The report noted that in three cases where a mother was killed a Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment and Honour Based Violence (DASH) risk assessments had been completed and was scored as medium risk.
Work Collaboratively: Engage with domestic abuse specialists, guardians, and social workers to build a holistic picture of risk. Do not rely solely on the absence of criminal convictions or the presence of parental rights.
Hold the System Accountable: Where the system fails to protect, lawyers must not be afraid to raise concerns, appeal unsafe decisions, or seek judicial guidance.
Consider how victims can access specialist support for survivors, including financial support to overcome the impact of increases in the cost of living: In five of the cases, the couple appeared to be living together despite being separated. In three of the these cases, the reviews stated that this was for financial reasons.
Protecting mothers from Black or minoritised backgrounds: The report highlighted that three of the cases involved issues around professionals not using interpreters and fears regarding information sharing from survivors with uncertain or insecure immigration status. Lawyers should ensure they are connected to specialist organisations who can help their clients to understand their rights in the early stages if there is an identified language barrier. In the absence of legal aid for funding interpreters for initial information gathering, this is a key aspect of ensuring lawyers and professionals can identify issues for survivors and victims and work collaboratively to safeguard and protect.

In conclusion, Women’s Aid assert that there is evidence that would suggest that the Family Court have unfortunately at times, prioritised parental rights over child safety. For Family and Childcare lawyers, this report is a reminder that our role is not just to represent but to protect and ensure vigorous risk assessments are undertaken where there is a concern around domestic abuse.

How can the law help? The Domestic Abuse Act 2025

The Domestic Abuse Act 2025 seeks to address some of these concerns and reshape how domestic abuse is addressed in England and Wales. The key changes in the law are:

1. Coercive Control Now Treated Like Physical Violence

Controlling or coercive behaviour is now legally recognised as seriously as physical abuse. Offenders sentenced to 12 months or more for coercive control are automatically placed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) a system previously reserved for violent and sexual offenders.

2. MAPPA Expansion

MAPPA now applies to domestic abuse offenders, including those with suspended sentences or hospital orders for coercive control. This means police, probation, and other agencies must work together to monitor these individual’s post-sentence. Monitoring may include electronic tagging, movement restrictions, and regular check-ins.

3. Children Recognised as Victims

If a child witnesses or is exposed to domestic abuse, they are now legally considered a direct victim. This affects family court decisions, with courts placing greater emphasis on child safety over automatic parental contact.

4. New Protective Tools: DAPNs and DAPOs

Domestic Abuse Protection Notices (DAPNs) and Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) are now in full use across England and Wales. DAPN are issued by police for immediate protection without court approval. DAPOs are issued by family or criminal courts, with breach considered a criminal offence.

5. Expanded Definition of Abuse

The legal definition now includes: emotional and psychological abuse, economic abuse, post-separation abuse (e.g., manipulation via child maintenance or housing).

6. Mandatory Training for Legal Professionals

Judges and court staff are now required to undergo trauma-informed training to better understand and handle abuse cases.

At Cartwright King Solicitors we have a team of specialist lawyers who are dedicated to helping families navigate complex legal proceedings and changes with confidence and proficiency. We provide expert legal advice and representation in family law cases and work vigorously to ensure the rights of survivors and children are protected.