England and Wales: New 25-Year Minimum Sentence for Domestic Murderers

Offenders in England and Wales who kill their current or former partner will now face a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, a significant increase from the previous 15-year starting point. The change, announced by Justice Secretary David Lammy on Monday, comes after a seven-year campaign by mothers of victims seeking tougher penalties for domestic murder.

Lammy acknowledged that for centuries the law failed to protect women from partner violence, including marital rape and domestic abuse. He said the new sentencing guidelines close a long-overdue gap and better reflect the devastating harm caused by such murders. He paid tribute to Carole Gould, Julie Devey, and Elaine Newborough, whose daughters—Ellie Gould, 17; Poppy Devey-Waterhouse, 24; and Megan Newborough—were murdered by ex-boyfriends or partners. In a statement via the charity Killed Women, the mothers thanked Lammy and said women's lives are finally being valued as highly as men's.

The reform addresses the previous disparity where most domestic murders had a 15-year starting point simply because the murder weapon, such as a kitchen knife, was already at home rather than brought to the scene. Under the new rules, the higher 25-year minimum will apply to all such cases, except where a victim of domestic abuse kills their abuser, in which case the 15-year minimum remains.

The change is part of the government's commitment to halve violence against women and girls and ensure swifter justice. More than a fifth of all murders are domestic, with women overwhelmingly the victims. The Guardian's "Killed women" count recorded 80 women killed in the UK in 2024, highlighting the scale of femicide.

The announcement has been welcomed by Refuge and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, Dame Nicole Jacobs. However, Jacobs expressed disappointment that the new minimum does not apply to victims killed by family members, such as parents killed by children or victims of so-called honor-based abuse. Refuge also called for a review of partial defenses that allow perpetrators to be convicted of manslaughter rather than murder.

Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, warned that the change pre-empts the Law Commission's ongoing review of homicide offenses and will add pressure on a prison system already struggling with rising numbers, largely due to longer sentences for serious crimes. The new sentencing guidelines are subject to consultation with the Sentencing Council.