Domestic killings spiked in London last year, prompting fears that lockdown has had deadly side effects.
There were 22 domestic homicides in the capital in 2020, up from 16 in 2019. Twelve of the victims were children, up from seven the previous year.
Announcing a review into the 38 per cent increase, Commander Dave McLaren said: ‘It is fair to say mental health has played a part in a number of those crimes. It isn’t a massive leap of faith to say lockdown has an impact on all of us in terms of our wellbeing.’
The data emerged after Olga Freeman, 40, this week pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of disabled son Dylan, ten, in August.
Number of child homicides rises during lockdown amid mental health fears
Scotland Yard investigated 22 domestic homicides in 2020 up from 16 the year before the pandemic
26 January 2021 • 4:44pm
The number of domestic homicides involving children has almost doubled during the pandemic, with senior Scotland Yard officers warning of the impact that lockdown has had on mental health.
New figures show that in 2020 the Metropolitan Police investigated 22 domestic killings, up from 16 in 2019.
But the number of children killed by a parent or carer over the same period increased from 7 in 2019 to 12 last year.
All of the cases investigated will now be subject to a multi-agency review, but there are fears that the strain of lockdown has fuelled mental health related homicides.
By Press Association 2021
A Metropolitan Police officer
Britain’s biggest police force is reviewing all the domestic killings of children last year amid fears that lockdown may have contributed to an increase in the number of deaths.
The number of homicides in London fell from 150 in 2019 to 126 in 2020 but there was a rise in the number of domestic killings.
Data from the Metropolitan Police showed that there were 22 domestic homicides in 2020, up from 16 in 2019. The 2020 figure includes 12 children, compared with seven in 2019.
All the child deaths are under review by the force and other support services.
Commander Dave McLaren said: “It is fair to say that mental health has played a part in a number of those crimes this year and it isn’t a massive leap of faith to say that lockdown has an impact on all of us in terms of our wellbeing.
By Press Association 2021
A Metropolitan Police officer
Britain’s biggest police force is reviewing all the domestic killings of children last year amid fears that lockdown may have contributed to an increase in the number of deaths.
The number of homicides in London fell from 150 in 2019 to 126 in 2020 but there was a rise in the number of domestic killings.
Data from the Metropolitan Police showed that there were 22 domestic homicides in 2020, up from 16 in 2019. The 2020 figure includes 12 children, compared with seven in 2019.
All the child deaths are under review by the force and other support services.
Commander Dave McLaren said: “It is fair to say that mental health has played a part in a number of those crimes this year and it isn’t a massive leap of faith to say that lockdown has an impact on all of us in terms of our wellbeing.
By Press Association 2021
A Metropolitan Police officer
Britain’s biggest police force is reviewing all the domestic killings of children last year amid fears that lockdown may have contributed to an increase in the number of deaths.
The number of homicides in London fell from 150 in 2019 to 126 in 2020 but there was a rise in the number of domestic killings.
Data from the Metropolitan Police showed that there were 22 domestic homicides in 2020, up from 16 in 2019. The 2020 figure includes 12 children, compared with seven in 2019.
All the child deaths are under review by the force and other support services.
Commander Dave McLaren said: “It is fair to say that mental health has played a part in a number of those crimes this year and it isn’t a massive leap of faith to say that lockdown has an impact on all of us in terms of our wellbeing.