Homicide

Homicide is the unlawful killing of another person. In England and Wales, most homicides fall into the categories of murder and manslaughter.

There are many factors that can lead to homicide, including domestic abuse, serious and organised crime, youth violence, offences against vulnerable people (including children), and drug and alcohol abuse.

The homicide rate in England and Wales is lower than in many other countries. But every victim is one too many.

Our inspections

Homicide prevention: an inspection of the police contribution to the prevention of homicide – 11 August 2023

Together with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing and the Independent Office for Police Conduct, we carried out a thematic inspection of homicide prevention.

We examined:

1. how effectively forces understand the pattern of homicide in their areas, including the underlying causes and risks; and
2. how effectively forces contribute to the prevention of homicides, including how they use the homicide prevention framework.

An inspection of the Metropolitan Police Service’s response to lessons from the Stephen Port murders – 27 April 2023

Between June 2014 and September 2015, Stephen Port drugged, sexually assaulted and murdered four young men in East London. Despite the similarities between the deaths, the Metropolitan Police Service failed to recognise that they might be connected.

In December 2021, following the inquest into the murders, the deputy mayor for policing and crime, requested that we carry out an inspection to establish whether the police service had learned lessons.

Inspection of the Metropolitan Police Service’s counter-corruption arrangements and other matters related to the Daniel Morgan independent Panel – 22 March 2022

In August 2021, following the independent panel review of the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS’s) handling of the investigation into Daniel Morgan’s murder, the Home Secretary commissioned us to carry out a thematic inspection of the MPS.

Review of the investigation into the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells – 30 May 2004

In 2004, at the request of the Home Secretary, we assessed the performance of Cambridgeshire Constabulary during the investigation into the murders of Jessica Chapman and Holly Wells and the extent to which the force had improved. The report also makes recommendations as to how such investigations could be undertaken more effectively in the future.