The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 11) Regulations 2026
Activated statutory requirements for Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews in England and Wales starting 15 September 2026.
These Regulations bring into force section 19 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 on 15 September 2026, establishing a statutory framework for Domestic Abuse Related Death Reviews in England and Wales.
This new system replaces the previous Domestic Homicide Reviews and mandates that specific public bodies—including local authorities, police forces, and NHS integrated care boards—participate in investigations to identify lessons following a death linked to domestic abuse.
The regulations apply to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, though they maintain existing homicide review protocols for Northern Ireland.
Arguments For
The explanatory note states that the regulations establish a new framework for reviewing deaths resulting from domestic abuse within the meaning of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
The document indicates the reviews are intended to identify lessons to be learned from a death, with findings shared with the Secretary of State and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.
Proponents may argue the measure ensures consistency by requiring specified bodies, including police forces, local authorities, and NHS bodies, to fulfill a statutory duty to participate in these reviews.
The legislation preserves existing arrangements for Northern Ireland, ensuring domestic homicide reviews continue under section 9 of the 2004 Act in that jurisdiction.
Arguments Against
Legal scholars might note that while the regulations apply to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the new death review framework only displaces previous homicide review mechanisms in England and Wales, creating different statutory processes across jurisdictions.
Local authorities and NHS bodies may express concern regarding the administrative and financial resources required to fulfill the new statutory duty to establish or participate in these reviews.
The Secretary of State retains the power to amend the list of bodies required to participate, which some observers might argue creates uncertainty for public sector agencies regarding future compliance obligations.
Citation and extent
- —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 11) Regulations 2026. —(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales and Northern Ireland.
This section establishes the official name of the statutory instrument and defines its geographic reach.
It confirms that the regulations are legally applicable in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Commencement of section 19
- Section 19 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (domestic abuse related death reviews) comes into force on 15th September 2026.
This provision sets 15 September 2026 as the date on which section 19 of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 becomes legally effective. Once active, this section introduces new requirements for reviewing deaths related to domestic abuse and mandates cooperation from various public agencies.
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