¹ As at 28 November 2005; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. ² From the information notified to the Home Office, the relationship between victim and suspect is known to be within the following categories: Son, daughter (including adopted) Stepson, stepdaughter (including child of suspect's cohabitant/lover Spouse Ex-spouse, estranged spouse Cohabitant, common law spouse Ex-cohabitant, ex-common law spouse Lover, mistress Ex-lover, ex-mistress Lover's spouse, spouse's lover, cohabitant's spouse or lover, lover's lover Homosexual/ex-homosexual relationship—long-term Homosexual relationship—casual Other family (including foster children). ³ From the information notified to the Home Office, the suspect is known to have been intoxicated at the time of the offence, or on drink and drugs. The drink and drugs related cases may include those where drink was not the primary factor. The figures are affected by recording changes, most notably in 2001-02 when some forces introduced a new notification system.

¹ This measure is the one used generally for recorded crime statistics. It differs from the more commonly used ‘currently recorded’ homicide measure, which excludes cases where a suspect has been acquitted or convicted of a lesser offence. Figures using this measure are not available below police force area level.