Perpetrators who commit acts of violence resulting in the death of their partners or former partners will now be subjected to an additional 10 years in prison following the closure of an “outdated and sexist” sentencing gap.

Mothers who have lost their children expressed their relief after Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy confirmed that individuals who commit domestic violence resulting in death must be sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. The upcoming reform, set to be announced on Tuesday, will replace criticized sentencing regulations that differentiate between homicides occurring inside and outside the home.

This significant change comes after a prolonged advocacy effort by three grieving mothers whose daughters were murdered by violent ex-partners either at their own homes or at the perpetrators’ residences. Carole Gould, Julie Devey, and Elaine Newborough stated that this reform finally signifies equal value placed on women’s lives compared to men’s.

Under current legislation, most domestic violence-related murders carry a starting sentencing point of 15 years due to their occurrence within the home. However, murders involving the use of a weapon taken to the scene mandate a minimum sentence of 25 years.

Advocates have persistently called for the elimination of this disparity. Mr. Lammy, who also serves as the Justice Secretary, emphasized the historical failure of the law to protect women from violence at the hands of their partners, whether through marital rape or abuse behind closed doors. He highlighted the necessity to continue rectifying these injustices.

“This adjustment addresses a long overdue gap and ensures that individuals who commit violence resulting in the death of their partners face sentences that more accurately reflect the immense harm they inflict,” stated Mr. Lammy.

He commended Carole, Julie, and Elaine, the founders of the advocacy group Killed Women, for their efforts in seeking justice for their daughters. Carole’s daughter Ellie was tragically murdered at the age of 17 in 2019 by Thomas Griffiths in Calne, Wiltshire, following the termination of their relationship.

Julie’s daughter, Poppy Devey Waterhouse, aged 24, was murdered by Joe Atkinson in her Leeds residence in 2018 after their three-year relationship ended. Atkinson was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and 310 days in prison.

Similarly, Elaine’s daughter, Meghan, was strangled and had her throat slashed by Ross McCullam at his residence in Leicestershire. McCullam received a minimum sentence of 23 years in 2023.

The three mothers expressed in a statement: “Finally, women’s lives are being valued equally to men’s. Given that around 70% of homicide victims at home are women, it has been unjust that those who murder them often receive significantly lighter sentences simply because the murder weapon was already present, like a kitchen knife, rather than brought to the scene.”

“We have tirelessly campaigned on this issue for seven years to demonstrate to the authorities the danger posed by these individuals. We have lost our daughters – Poppy, Ellie, and Megan – to such individuals.

“Anyone capable of committing such extreme violence against someone they once loved, often the mother of their children, poses a serious threat, not only to other women but to society at large.”

Continuing their statement, they added, “Over the course of seven years, we have engaged with seven Lord Chancellors, all of whom were sympathetic, but it is this current Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, who has finally taken the appropriate action.”

In 2024, the Killed Women group initiated a ‘killed here’ campaign, erecting blue plaques at locations where women were killed in their homes. They emphasized the need for the new Labour Government to uphold the Conservative party’s commitment to reform the outdated and sexist domestic homicide sentencing laws in support of the victims and their families.

Dame Nicole Jacobs, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner, remarked, “For far too long, abusers who commit fatal acts have not faced sentences commensurate with the gravity of their crimes. This welcomed change is a testament to the tireless efforts of bereaved families seeking justice for their loved ones. I am pleased to see provisions in place to ensure that victims who retaliate against their abusers following prolonged abuse will not receive harsher sentences.

“However, I am disappointed that this increase in sentencing will not apply when a victim is killed by a family member