Campaigners Warn Proposed Law Changes Could Protect Abusive Men and Police Officers
Justice campaigners have issued a stark warning that proposed government law changes could make it easier for abusive men to evade justice when their actions drive women to suicide. The reforms, which would make it harder for inquests to pass verdicts of unlawful killing, have drawn fierce criticism from charities and advocacy groups who say they will weaken police accountability and endanger vulnerable women.
Unlawful Killing Verdicts Under Threat
The proposed changes specifically target the standard of proof required for unlawful killing verdicts in inquests. These verdicts have been crucial in securing justice for women who took their own lives after suffering prolonged domestic abuse. In October last year, Georgia Barter was found to have been unlawfully killed following a decade of domestic violence. Similarly, in 2023, an inquest determined that Kellie Sutton, whose death was initially classified as suicide, was actually unlawfully killed due to domestic abuse she endured.
Harriet Wistrich, head of the Centre for Women's Justice, expressed strong opposition to the reforms. "We strongly oppose any reversal of the standard of proof for unlawful killing in inquest verdicts," she stated. "This would set back the cause of highlighting the issue of recognising the role that domestic abuse plays in relation to the suicides of many women."
Police Accountability Concerns
The proposed measures are part of a broader government package aimed at addressing police officers' fears about prosecution after using force. This follows the high-profile case of Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Blake, who was acquitted in 2024 after standing trial for murder for shooting dead unarmed Chris Kaba. Police chiefs and ministers had feared armed officers might walk out in protest if Blake had been convicted.
However, justice groups argue these changes will have damaging consequences beyond police accountability. Wistrich warned that the reforms would also help officers who pose a threat to women remain in their positions. "At a time when the government has expressed strong commitment to tackling misogyny, racism and homophobia within policing," she said, "the proposal to weaken mechanisms for individual officer accountability is alarming."
Coalition Calls for Reconsideration
A coalition of organizations including Amnesty International, Black Lives Matter UK, the Centre for Women's Justice, and Inquest has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urging the government to reconsider the plans. The letter expresses "dismay at the government's plans to weaken police accountability" and criticizes what it calls accepting "a one-sided argument in lockstep with the police lobby."
The letter highlights concerning statistics about police use of force, noting over 812,000 recorded uses in 2024-25—a 9% increase from the previous year. It also points out that Black people experience police use of force at more than three times the rate of white people.
Impact on Bereaved Families
Deborah Coles, executive director of Inquest, condemned the proposed changes. "Changing the law to please the police lobby—at the expense of bereaved people and victims—will simply advance the culture of impunity," she said.
Mohannad Bashir, whose brother died after being restrained by Gwent police, shared his family's experience. "Mouayed's death continues to have a huge impact on me and my family," he said, "but the system favours the police more than bereaved families." No wrongdoing was found in his brother's case.
Government Response
A Home Office spokesperson responded to the concerns, stating: "We know there's more to do to maintain both public and police confidence in police accountability. That's why we'll be commissioning an independent, fundamental end-to-end review of the police misconduct system."
The proposed reforms come amid ongoing scrutiny of police culture following cases like that of David Carrick, who served as a Metropolitan Police officer for 20 years despite multiple allegations against him. Campaigners argue that weakening accountability mechanisms contradicts government commitments to address systemic issues within policing.
