Killed Women’s Black & Blue Plaques: ‘Killed Here’ campaign calls on the new Labour Government to uphold the Conservatives’ commitment to change the outdated and misogynistic UK domestic homicide sentencing laws in support of murdered women and their families.

On average, in the UK perpetrators who kill in the home using a weapon kept in the home receive a sentence with a minimum prison term (starting tariff) before being considered for parole, of around ten years less than those killed out of home, due to out-of-date laws. 

One woman is killed by a man every three days in the UK - and in most of these cases they are murdered by people they know, and the murders are generally horrific in nature and involve overkill. However, the final blow for families is often in the sentencing, when the criminal justice system deems their loved ones' lives are worth ten years less. 

Killed Women calls for Sir Keir Starmer and Shabana Mahmood, the Lord Chancellor, to urgently include this crucial issue in the Government’s agenda.

“We want the symbolism of these plaques to raise this issue in the House of Commons. The Government showed a refreshing approach to the riots this summer and we want this issue to be granted the same attention, in honouring the pledges made by the previous Government. While this won’t bring our loved ones home, at the very least, families of future victims will be consoled by the knowledge that justice has been served.”

Each bespoke Black & Blue Plaque includes the woman's name, their life span, and then the words: 'Killed here', the sentence given, and 'Murder is murder, change the law'.

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Killed Women’s Fallen Women campaign calls for the deaths of all women who have fallen from a height to be reviewed by police to identify whether domestic abuse may have been a feature.

We want official data collection to track the number of women who die after falling from a height each year, and believe that domestic abuse should be a key line of inquiry for police in all such cases.

Criminologist Professor Jane Monckton Smith estimates there are around 130 primarily female victims killed every year in England and Wales whose deaths are not investigated or prosecuted as homicides.

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The campaign opening coincided with the Channel 4 documentary ‘The Push: Murder on the Cliff’, which follows the case of Fawziyah Javed, who died after being pushed off Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh by her husband in 2021.

Fawziyah’s mother Yasmin, a member of the Killed Women network, said: ‘Domestic abusers will continue to get away with murder if we don’t ensure the cases of so-called fallen women are rigorously investigated by authorities. We must have a system that delivers justice for these women.’

‘The Push’ has won ‘Best Programme’ at the Asian Media Awards and ‘Best Documentary Series’ at the Grierson Awards. This telling of Fawziyah’s story has helped people leave abusive relationships and saved lives around the world.

Killed Women and research organisation Ipsos have recently conducted an anonymous survey for relatives of women killed by male violence.

The aim of the survey was to better understand the experiences of bereaved families and what changes must be made to ensure women are protected, families supported and justice delivered.

The findings from the survey have now been collated into a report (entitled ‘YOU WERE TOLD: A Voice for Killed Women’), published and shared with the public at our Westminster event on 5th December 2023, entitled The Final Protest.

Be a voice for Killed Women and demand change. Click on the button below to access the report - and send it to your MP.

One week on from the senseless and horrific death of Rebecca Cheptegei in Kenya (the third female athlete to be murdered by a current or former male partner in that country over the past three years), we gather our thoughts on this latest high-profile killing and the prevalence of extreme violence against women and girls both overseas and - of particular concern to this organisation - in the UK (much of which is far less widely reported):

“We are truly heartbroken by the tragic killing of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei, another precious life taken far too soon by male violence.

Our deepest sympathies go out to Rebecca’s family, friends and community as they grieve and navigate their profound loss.

As a network, we are painfully aware of the devastating impact of Domestic Homicide, particularly among women from ethnic minority backgrounds who face compounded challenges and systemic barriers.

Rebecca’s death is not just a loss to her loved ones but a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of so many women in similar situations.

We must continue to advocate for reforms and ensure that the voices of women, especially those from ethnic minority communities, are heard and protected.

Rebecca’s death is one of too many, and we are committed to working towards a future where no woman faces such violence.

Rebecca reminds us why we are here today and stand together as a network. ❤️”

On the evening of Tuesday 9 July 2024, the lives of Carol, Louise and Hannah Hunt were brutally taken in their own home. There are no words to describe the scale of this loss or the devastating impact of such violence on those who loved these women.

We urge all those with the power to stop this tidal wave of violence against women and girls to act with urgency. All women deserve to live free from threat, fear and violence. All those whose lives are taken deserve justice.

Our hearts are with Carol, Louise and Hannah’s family and friends, whose lives, as our network knows only too well, will never be the same again.

This consultation, published by the Ministry of Justice, considered:

- raising starting points for killings with a history of coercive and controlling abuse or with a weapon;

- and whether murderers who use a knife or other weapon already at the crime scene should also face steeper starting points – which would result in higher minimum jail terms in these cases.

Julie Devey, Carole Gould and Elaine Newborough of Killed Women discuss these - and related - issues in a short film entitled

‘The Change That’s Needed’

These three mothers of Killed Women were interviewed by Julie Etchingham for ITV’s Tonight programme on Thursday 22 February:

‘Murdered at Home’

CONSULTATION CLOSED 4 MARCH 2024

The Ministry of Justice is now considering its response to the public consultation following 5,200 responses.

July 2023. An open letter from Killed Women to Rishi Sunak, calling for Jade’s Law to be included in the Victims and Prisoners Bill, currently going through Parliament, in order to end all parental rights for killers the moment they are convicted.

Dear Prime Minister,

We are families whose loved daughters, sisters, aunties and mothers were killed by domestic abusers.

We know from experience that the impact of domestic homicide on bereaved families is lifelong, a grief and pain that can never be taken away.

The impact on children who have their mothers taken from them by killer fathers is unimaginable.

Yet even after the death, the ability of the killer to inflict pain isn’t stopped.

Unbelievably, if a father kills a mother, parental responsibility stays with that killer.

That means that after ending the mother’s life and destroying their children’s lives, these killers still have power over their children.

It means they can be involved in decisions affecting their young lives, including medical treatment or travel.

These killers can use this power to continue the controlling and abusive behaviour they inflicted upon the woman they killed.

Some abusive fathers have tried to block maternal family members from gaining custody of the children they love, the kids left to languish in the care system instead.

Some of our families weren’t able to see their loved nieces, nephews or grandchildren for months on end, custody battles sometimes lasting years.

Many face a cruel separation that has a devastating impact on both bereaved children and the murdered mother’s family alike.

For the ones that do get custody, the lack of financial, legal or emotional support for families left looking after deeply traumatised – sometimes suicidal – bereaved children is scandalous.

The Victims and Prisoners Bill currently going through Parliament is the opportunity to make a change.

We urge the Government to use this moment to ease the suffering of families like ours.

Yours,

Killed Women

Dear Prime Minister,

You recently announced that “a whole life order will now be the expectation when judges sentence for murderers where killing involves sexual or sadistic conduct.”

We three bereaved mothers absolutely welcome this move and wholeheartedly agree that the most heinous criminals should never be released from prison.

As three mothers of daughters who have been violently murdered, we understand your fears as a father and your mission to make the streets safer.

In reality though, it’s not just the streets. The home is much more likely to be the crime scene for a murdered woman and more likely to be where YOUR daughters could be murdered.

Contact numbers in a crisis:

We are reaching out to other families of women killed by men who might want to join the Killed Women network.

If you are a bereaved relative please email us at info@killedwomen.org for more information or click on the button below.

Your donation will help families elevate their voice and build this organisation, to create a legacy of change that ensures justice and protection for women in the future.