Domestic abuse causing pregnancy loss/miscarriage from 2017 to 2021
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.025949
I note you seek access to the following information:
My request relates to baby loss following an incident of domestic abuse. I define domestic abuse related crimes as any incidence of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults, aged 16 years and over, who are or have been intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality, as per the ONS definition.
Please could you provide the following information:
Per calendar year, between 2017 up to and including 2021, how many incidents of baby loss has your force recorded after an incident of domestic abuse?”
CLARIFICATION -
“Thank you for your acknowledgement of my request ref: 01/FOI/22/025949
I would like to update my request if possible with a clarification if possible.
When I refer to 'baby loss', I mean "pregnancy loss" and "miscarriage".”
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
The following is a count of domestic abuse related offences for the destruction of an unborn child, recorded between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021.
| Recorded Year | Offences Count |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| Grand Total | 13 |
The following Home Office codes were used:
004/03 - Child destruction
014/01 - Administering drugs or using an instrument to procure abortion
014/02 - Procuring drugs etc. to cause abortion.
Please note, these are the recorded offences with
i) a DA flag and
ii) a recorded loss of pregnancy.
However, the causal link between the two cannot be 100% established in all cases. In addition, there may also be more that are present but not recorded with
i) or ii) that would therefore not be returned within the scope of this search.
You may wish to approach the National Health Service(NHS) to see if they have any data which may be more complete and in keeping with what you are hoping to obtain.