Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it a requirement that the recommendations of the Independent Police Complaints Commission following a domestic homicide are binding on all agencies.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) can, in certain circumstances, investigate police actions relating to a domestic homicide. Where the IPCC have investigated, reported and issued recommendations as part of any investigation, the Government require the police and other agencies to respond.

The Government introduced this statutory duty following a report from the Home Affairs Select Committee. The duty requires the force or agency to respond within 56 days, setting out what action they are taking or to explain why no action is being taken. These responses are published where possible.

In addition, when domestic homicide occurs, local areas must undertake a Domestic Homicide Review and make recommendations on what lessons can be learned by all safeguarding professionals and organisations. Those involved must have regard to statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

The Government believes that these measures enable lessons to be learned by all relevant agencies following incidents of domestic homicide.