Gendered Violence in a Stressed Society: Homicide Trends in England & Wales, 1977–2020

• In Event: Lethal Inequalities: Understanding the Structural Predictors, Gendered Patterns, and Life Lost to Violence

Abstract

This paper presents findings from a longitudinal study of homicide in England and Wales (E&W), tracing gendered patterns and social drivers of lethal violence from 1977 to 2020. Although homicide rates in E&W peaked later than in other industrialised countries, they have shown both long-term declines and periodic short-term surges. Drawing on the Homicide Index, alongside national economic and criminal justice data, we examine how demographic shifts, drug market dynamics, and austerity have shaped homicide trends. Our analysis reveals persistent reductions in male-on-female homicide, largely within domestic contexts, and episodic spikes in male-on-male violence, often linked to gang and acquaintance killings. We show that the socio-political context—especially broad economic stress, evolving gender norms, and criminal justice responses—has differentially affected homicide trends by gender. These findings highlight the importance of linking structural change with patterns of violence over time, and raise questions about policy responses to gendered harms in a stressed society.

Authors

• Emily Gray, University of Warwick

• Stephen Farrall, University of Nottingham

• Andromachi Tseloni, Nottingham Trent University, UK