Offensive Weapons Homicide Reviews unlikely to save young adult lives, researchers find

Offensive Weapons Homicide Reviews (OWHRs) were introduced by the previous Conservative government in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. Their stated purpose is to help national and local agencies understand the causes of serious violence and prevent future weapons-enabled homicides.

A report by Dr Susie Hulley and Dr Tara Young, published by the CCJS on THursday (February 20), examines the potential benefits and risks of this new duty, particularly its impact on young adult safety.

The authors analysed evidence about existing homicide reviews, such as Domestic Violence Homicide Reviews, which have been in operation for several decades.

Homicide reviews, they argue, are not without merit. The research found that reviews can offer additional, important information about what happened, not least of all to a victim’s family and friends.

However, the report finds that the recommendations from homicide reviews are frequently not acted upon, raising serious concerns whether the learning from these cases is being effectively implemented – particularly given the lack of statutory duty or resources to do so.

If, after the pilot, OWHRs are rolled out nationally, the report provides recommendations that could mitigate some of the identified risks of existing homicide reviews, including for a publicly accessible national database of findings and recommendations.

However, the authors conclude that OWHRs are unlikely to prevent weapon-enabled homicides involving young adults, and urge the Government to put well-evidenced interventions that reduce serious violence at the forefront of its approach to serious violence.

Dr Hulley and Dr Young said: “In light of these findings and the Government’s ambitious target to halve knife crime over the next decade, we urge the government to reconsider the cost effectiveness of a national rollout of OWHRs, and to instead focus on well evidenced interventions that reduce serious violence and support young adults to flourish.”

Helen Mills, Head of Programmes at the CCJS, said: “If OWHRs are rolled out this report highlights important learning about how they can best work. However, we have some scepticism about whether this is the right approach.

“Clear evidence already exists about how to best prevent and respond to serious violence, and that the particular needs of young adults are often overlooked. Yet good practice remains frustratingly fragmented, and lacking the long-term sustainable funding it needs.”