Family violence committee finds all reviewed deaths were preventable

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A special public health committee set up to crack down on family violence has found all the deaths it reviewed were preventable.

The Family Violence Death Review Committee, which advises the Health Quality and Safety Commission, analysed 72 deaths from 2009-2011.

In its report, released today, the committee made several recommendations about domestic violence case management systems.

They included:

Developing a national process, which stretches across different government agencies, for managing high-risk family violence cases

Providing 'Stopping violence' programmes and other support services for victims of family violence

Having a consistent follow-up process for family members which works across different government agencies.

Committee chairwoman Professor Julia Tolmie said of the deaths considered, 35 were intimate partner homicides, 20 were associated with child abuse and neglect, and 17 involved other family members.

Furthermore, reported family violence incidents were only the tip of the iceberg, Professor Tolmie said.

"For example, we know New Zealand police attended over 94,000 family violence incidents in New Zealand in 2011, and yet it has been estimated that only 18-20 per cent of all family violence incidents are reported."

• 258 family violence deaths 2002 - 2010

• Police attended more than 94,000 family violence incidents in 2011

• An estimated 80-82 percent of family violence offences are unreported

Source: Family Violence Death Review Committee