The Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (Commencement No. 11) Regulations 2026

These Regulations bring into force a specified provision of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 (c. 21) (“the 2024 Act”). These are the eleventh commencement Regulations made under the 2024 Act.

Regulation 2 brings into force section 19 (domestic abuse related death reviews) of the 2024 Act which inserts section 8A (establishment and conduct of reviews) into the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28) (“the 2004 Act”). 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. Section 8A introduces a new framework for reviewing deaths that appear to have resulted from domestic abuse within the meaning of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (c. 17). It establishes a statutory duty for specified bodies, including police forces, local authorities, NHS bodies, probation services, and integrated care boards, to establish or participate in reviews aimed at identifying lessons to be learned from a death. The person or body that establishes a review must send a copy of any report, setting out their conclusions, to the Secretary of State and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. The section also enables the Secretary of State to amend the list of bodies required to participate in such reviews.

Section 8A 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.

An impact assessment has not been produced for this statutory instrument as no impact, or significant impact, on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.