Domestic Homicide Review SW01 – Published June 2016

The Domestic Homicide Review process concerning Luisa Mendes commenced on 7th August 2013. As part of that process all agencies that were thought to have had an involvement with Ms Mendes in the years leading up to her death were asked to retain all information that they held in relation to her. In turn, they were invited to submit an Individual Management Review (IMR) which are a key part of the Domestic Homicide Review process. An IMRs purpose is to compel agencies to look openly and critically at individual and organisational practice. IMRs also require agencies to explain why key decisions were made and to explore their mechanisms for multi-agency communication to identify whether there are areas of agency practice and procedure that require improvement.

By 6th January 2014 Safer South Warwickshire Community Safety Partnership (SSWCSP) had received all agency IMRs concerning Ms Mendes. Each IMR was then reviewed by the Independent Author of the DHR and the relevant information which she felt would assist agencies identify areas of good practice and identify areas where practice could be improved, were then fed in to the Report

The final version of the DHR was approved by the SSWCSP on 21st April 2015 and submitted to the Home Office. On 9th June 2015 the Home Office deemed the submission adequate for publication.

Publication of this approved final DHR was suspended pending the outcome of the final Inquest touching upon the death of Luisa Mendes which commenced on 16 May 2016 and concluded on 2nd June 2016. The decision to delay its publication was one approved by the Coroner in the proceedings to ensure the integrity of the Inquest was in no way compromised. However, it in no way draws from any of the issues or matters concerning agency involvement that may or may not have been scrutinised as part of these Inquest proceedings.

DHR SW01 – Press Release (77 KB)
DHR SW01 – Overview Report (1296.9 MB)
Appendix 1 – DHR SW01 Executive Summary (565 KB)
Appendix 2 – DHR SW01 Single Agency Action Plan – Updated May 2016 (482 KB)
Appendix 3 – DHR SW01 Multi Agency Action Plan – Updated May 2016 (222 KB)
Appendix 4 – DHR SW01 Correspondence with the Home Office (282 KB)
Appendix 5 – DHR SW01 Further consideration given to stalking and harassment (235 KB)
DHR SW01 – Notes from the Independent Chair (205 KB)

If you have any media enquiries in relation to the publication of DHR SW01, please telephone 01926 413727 or email newsteam@warwickshire.gov.uk

If you require any further information on Safer South Warwickshire Community Safety Partnership, please contact:

Pete Cutts (Warwick District)
Safer Communities Manager
Warwick District Council
Email: pete.cutts@warwickdc.gov.uk

Karin Stanley (Stratford District)
Governance & Community Safety Manager
Stratford District Council
Email: karin.stanley@stratford-dc.gov.uk

Website: Safer South Warwickshire Community Safety Partnership