Committee publication · Correspondence · 30 June 2026
Correspondence from The Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, dated 30 June 2026: Domestic Murder Sentencing
From: Justice Committee
Summary
David Lammy announces the government's intention to raise the minimum sentencing starting point for domestic murders from 15 to 25 years. The letter explains that current sentencing framework disparities leave domestic murders—often committed without premeditated weapons—with lower sentences than non-domestic murders. The policy will apply to intimate partner relationships and will be introduced via secondary legislation.
Key findings
- Current sentencing framework sets a 15-year starting point for most domestic murders, versus 25 years for murders where a weapon is taken to the scene with intent
- Domestic murders frequently receive lower sentences because weapons (e.g. kitchen knives) are typically present in the home rather than brought with premeditation
- Government proposes raising the domestic murder starting point to 25 years to rectify this disparity
- New framework will apply to intimate partner relationships: present and former spouses, civil partners, cohabiting partners, and boy/girlfriends
- Government is considering exceptions for lower culpability cases, including abuse victims who kill their abuser
Tone
ProceduralTopics
sentencingdomestic-violencecriminal-justice
Key actors
David Lammy MP, Andy Slaughter MP, Ministry of Justice
Notable line
“Too often, murders committed outside of a domestic setting receive higher minimum terms than domestic murders.”
Key Quotes
“The current sentencing framework does not adequately recognise the seriousness of domestic murders.”
“The Government intends to rectify this unacceptable disparity in treatment by introducing a 25 year starting point for domestic murders.”
“The Government is also carefully considering exceptions to the starting point to recognise murders where there is lower culpability, such as abuse victims who kill their abuser.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗