As cases of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) rise globally, affecting 840 million women, nearly one in three, the gender continues to bear the brunt.
To address this, the United Kingdom (UK) has proposed tougher penalties for partners who kill with intent.
In an announcement by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, the government said it will increase the minimum starting sentence for people who kill their current or former partner by 10 years, bringing domestic murder sentencing in line with other premeditated murders as part of efforts to tackle violence against women and girls.
Under current law, most domestic murders carry a 15‑year starting point because they typically occur at home with a weapon already present. Under the new proposal, the starting point will be 25 years for murders where a weapon is taken to the scene with intent.
As such, offenders who kill their partner or ex could face an additional 10 years in prison. The change aims to close the 10‑year gap so domestic murders are treated with the same severity as other murders, regardless of location, as they are among the most devastating crimes and often represent a culmination of prolonged trauma and abuse.
“For centuries, the law failed to protect women from violence at the hands of their partner, whether from marital rape or from abuse behind closed doors. Whilst we’ve made significant progress, we need to continue righting these wrongs. This change closes a long‑overdue gap and will ensure those who murder their partner face sentences that better reflect the devastating harm they cause,” Lammy, who also serves as Justice Secretary, said.
In the UK, more than a fifth of all murders are domestic, with women overwhelmingly the victims. The change is part of the government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls and ensure swifter justice for victims and families.
“The change will also include important safeguards to protect victims further. This means in cases where a victim of domestic abuse kills their abuser, the existing 15‑year baseline starting point will still apply. This change was only made possible by this Government stabilising the prison system and introducing the Sentencing Act to ensure that the most dangerous offenders can always be put behind bars,” the government said.
The government clarified that the new starting point will apply only to future murders and will not be applied retrospectively. This means it will cover murders occurring after enactment and not cases already ruled upon.
“This change to the law is subject to consultation with the Sentencing Council. This measure will be introduced as soon as possible,” the state added.
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