London, UK – In an effort to draw attention to what they describe as “outdated and misogynistic” UK domestic homicide sentencing laws, a network called Killed Women has spearheaded a unique campaign involving the temporary installation of seven plaques at locations where women were murdered by men. These blue and black plaques not only bear the names and life spans of the victims but also carry a potent message that underscores the severity of the crime and the perceived injustice in current sentencing practices.
The plaques distinctly mark “killed here” alongside the judicial sentences received by the murderers, accompanied by a call to action: “Murder is murder, change the law.” This initiative follows findings from the group stating that men who kill women within domestic settings typically receive sentences approximately 10 years shorter than those who commit similar crimes outside the home.
Each plaque will eventually be given to the victim’s family, but first, they play a crucial role in a broader advocacy push. Representatives of the campaign are set to present their concerns to Members of Parliament at Westminster, including meetings with noted MPs such as Caroline Nokes and Jess Phillips, aiming to ignite legislative change.
Statistics provided by Killed Women reveal a grim reality: one woman is killed every three days by a man in the UK, with the majority of these killings committed by someone familiar to the victim. The network argues that the disparity in sentencing not only undermines the severity of the crimes but also adds to the families’ grief, suggesting a diminished value of life based purely on the location of the crime.
Looking ahead, the group has implored political leaders including Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to prioritize this issue as Parliament resumes. This follows some movements from the previous Conservative government, which, led by Clare Wade KC, had initiated a public consultation to reconsider the starting tariff for domestic murderers. The consultation concluded earlier in the year, affirming an increase in the minimum sentence for domestic homicide to 25 years—a policy included in the Conservative Party’s 2024 election manifesto.
Fueling the campaign are individuals like Julie Devey and Carole Gould, co-founders of Killed Women, who were driven to action following the murders of their daughters by ex-partners. The personal tragedies of Devey’s daughter, Poppy Devey Waterhouse, and Gould’s daughter, Ellie Gould, highlight the broader issues surrounding domestic violence and the judicial system’s response.
The plaques also commemorate other victims including Julie Butcher, Elinor O’Brien, Jan Mustafa, Megan Newborough, and Claire Tavener, bringing individual faces to a national issue. Through these memorials, the campaign not only mourns the losses but also furthers a dialogue on the importance of reflective and equitable legal penalties.
Julie Devey voiced the collective sentiment of the campaign: “The final indignity to victims and their families is often the sentencing. The location of a murder should not dictate the severity of its punishment. This must change.” The plaques, thus, are not just markers of loss but beacons for advocacy, pressing for a reevaluation of laws that currently allow disparities in sentencing based on the context of the crime.
As the fight for justice continues, the symbolism of these plaques serves a dual purpose: honoring the lives lost while vocally challenging lawmakers to amend the current legal framework, ensuring future victims’ families might find solace in a system that respects and reflects the value of their loved ones’ lives.