*Trigger warning: This blog shares information from a report relating to murders and manslaughters, specifically about those killed by their son*

A new report highlights that female murder victims are more likely to be killed by their son than a stranger.

The Femicide Census, which looks at all femicide cases in the UK in 2022, shows that of the 121 women killed by a man during that year there were 12 where their son was subsequently identified as the perpetrator and was charged with murder or

manslaughter.

This is more than the number who were killed by a complete stranger (11). In addition, there were three grandmothers killed by their grandsons during 2022.

The overall picture:

The Femicide Census has recorded information about femicides since 2009, during which time there have been between 112 and 168 cases a year.

Looking globally, the United Nations reports that nearly 89,000 women and girls were killed intentionally across the world in 2022, representing the highest annual number recorded in the past 20 years. This is despite a drop in the overall number of homicides.

Breakdown by police force:

Of the total of 121, the police force which recorded the highest number of femicides was the Metropolitan Police (25), followed by Scotland (9), West Yorkshire (8), and Merseyside (8). However, when the figures are adjusted to take account of the

number of people living in each force area, the forces recording the highest rate of femicides per 100,000 residents were Merseyside, Gloucestershire, Dyfed-Powys and West Yorkshire.

Previously reported abuse:

Including the 12 mothers and 3 grandmothers, a total of 56 victims knew their killer. Of the 56, 17 had previously reported abuse to the police and 13 had disclosed abuse to friends and family.

The most commonly reported types of abuse were emotional and psychological (occurring in 53% of cases), coercive control (41%), physical (27%) and threats (26%).

Ages:

A total of 24 of the women (amounting to 20% of the cases recorded) were aged 66 or older when they were killed, including all three of the women killed by their grandsons and seven of the women killed by their sons.

In terms of those convicted of murder or manslaughter, the majority were aged between 20 and 59 when the crime occurred – although one was under 19 and two were in their 80s.

To read the full report, head to the Femicide Census website where you can also find out more about why this annual data review is undertaken.

As always, the thoughts of our team at PEGS are with those 121 women (whose names are listed at the beginning of the Census) and their loved ones. Each name reflects a person with a life, a family, friends – some of whom had previously reached out for support, some of whom had kept their abuse hidden or had found themselves unexpectedly the victim of a fatal attack. All of whom deserved a chance to live.