Information leaflet for Practitioners

Matricide and

Matricide and Patricide perpetrators of domestic abuse and their previously or current use of threats and violence. Definitions: However we cannot ignore the 1 Matricide - of a risk to those who have previously experienced domestic abuse or by her Son or Daughter AFV and how this may impact 2 Patricide – Murder of a on their ability to recognise and by his Son or Daughter respond to escalating 3 - one that his behaviours. or her father, mother, or a close In cases of AFV there was a relative pattern of the victim being in 4 Domestic abuse : 2018 cross some way the carer of the government DA definition: - Any perpetrator. incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or Mental health issues were a threatening common feature of majority of behaviour, violence or abuse AVF perpetrators, including between those aged 16 or over depression, self-harm, psychosis who are or have been intimate and paranoid schizophrenia partners or family members regardless of gender or The most frequent risk factors for sexuality.…. perpetrators of AVF were shown 5 Research Briefing through research to me mental health, alcohol, substance 6 DHR – Domestic misuse and previous criminality; Reviews and perpetrators displayed patterns of threatening and/or 7 AFV – Adult Family violence violent behaviour towards 8 MARAC – Multi-Agency Risk women. Assessment Conference It was recognised that the DASH UK analysis on Adult Family risk assessment tool is the main Violence (AFV): risk assessment for DA but that it does not highlighting specific (Home DHR key finding December risks associated parricide. 2016 & Standing Together Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) Case The dynamics underpinning Analysis June 2016) AFV is different from other forms of domestic homicide and more Found that all perpetrators were research is needed in the area male and the highest number of of risk identification, assessment cases involved matricide. and management

A notable risk factor is current or history of Domestic Abuse. This relates specifically to April 2019 -1

they should be in control and manage the situation. Barriers that we believe hinder  Feeling responsible for child’s the parent victim of AFV from welfare regardless of the child seeking help: being an adult.

 Isolation/secrecy Lack of recognition of child on parent violence  Perceived shame

 Services not recognising the  Conflicted feelings about their signs of a Domestic Abuse within child a parent child context,  Feel responsible for the child’s especially where: behaviour

 Not wishing to criminalise their  the parent does not have children/grandchild and obvious vulnerabilities damage their future life  may be in the carer role for chances their son or daughter.  Fear of being blamed or judged  The public not knowing that e.g. inferring poor Domestic Abuse can apply to a parenting/abusive or violent parent /child relations or other upbringing close family relationship.  Not recognising their own vulnerabilities  The victims normalising behaviour or seeing it as part of  Not seeing significant harm or their carer role to accept or murder as being a possible risk. manage aggressive or violent behaviour. What you should do if you  Parent psychological denial of a suspect Adult Family Domestic Abuse situation. Violence:

 The child normalising or Respond as you would to a domestic abuse case. e.g: psychologically denying the severity or unacceptability of  Believe the victim if they disclose their behaviour to you and explain to them that AFV is a form or abuse and a Psychological factors that crime and there is support may hinder a parent / available for them. Grandparent victim of DA  Be clear with victims that AFV is seeking support: Domestic Abuse and it is not acceptable behaviour in any  Parents having personal circumstance. expectations on themselves that

April 2019 -2

 Speak to them in a safe space if were more likely to be seventy or you see or hear something that over. raises concerns. Bows (2018) study spanning 2010-  Assess the Risk and consider use 2015 found that of the 221 cases of of formal risk tool e.g. Dash. domestic of older  Contact the Police where you people in England and Wales 44% are concerned that the victim is were the result of parricide and at immediate risk committed by a child or grandchild. The majority of victims  Contact the Police if the victim were killed at home and the reports a crime and consents to majority of perpetrators were male the call.  Raise an Adult Safeguard where The ONS (2018) reported that in the the victim has care and support year ending March 2017 there needs. were 64 homicides of people aged sixty five and over and that 13% of  Make a children’s safeguarding female homicides victims are were referral if there is a child aged seventy five and over (under18) living in the home or whereas only 9% of the female who stays in the home. population is in this age group,  Refer to MARAC where showing an increased risk of this indicated by the DASH or where form of elder abuse in older your professional judgement is women. that there is risk of serious harm  Consult your manager/senior or organisational safeguard team References: if you require assistance with any of the above. Bows, H(2018: ‘Domestic Homicide of Refer the parent to the Domestic Older People (2010-2015): A Violence Hub (with consent) comparative Analysis of Intimate- Partner Homicide and Parricide Cases in the UK

Finding from research: Holt, A(2017) “Parricide in England Research in this field is very limited and Wales (1977-2012) ‘An but the reality of the risk or exploration of offenders, victims, parricide in situations of Domestic incidents and outcomes,’, Homicides (DH) cannot be ignored. Criminology and Crime Justice 17(5)pp.568-587 A recent thirty year analysis of parricide identified 693 cases (Holt Home DHR key finding December 2017). Parricide was evenly 2016 : Accessed 12/12/2018 distributed between male and Standing Together Domestic female victims but most men were Homicide Review (DHR) Case killed in their fifties whereas women Analysis June 2016: accessed 12/12/2018 April 2019 -3