Met hunts wife beaters who may murder

Scotland Yard is to target wife beaters they fear could become killers, in a

In an operation which echoes the film Minority Report, officers will look for clues in a suspect’s behaviour or situation which could identify him as a potential murderer.

Police could then prosecute even if the victim opposes this.

Senior officers say the initiative — almost unique in the world — will put domestic violence into the same category as other serious violent crime.

Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair, who is masterminding the scheme, said: “About 40 per cent of our murders are domestic and there is compelling evidence that some of these are preventable. Unless we take action we will continue to see
women being murdered.”

At present, police called to scenes of domestic violence only prosecute if the victim agrees. Just 25 per cent of such visits end in an arrest.

In research commissioned by the Yard, experts identified six factors which were present in most partner killings.

These included couples separating against the wishes of one partner, couples expecting or struggling to cope with children, stalking, a sudden escalation in violence and violence in “isolated” communities such as ethnic minorities or gay communities.

Eighty five per cent of domestic violence offenders are men and 65 per cent are aged between 21 and 40.

Suspects considered at risk of going on to to commit murder will be recorded in a database of violent offenders.

In Minority Report, Tom Cruise plays a policeman in charge of a unit called Pre-Crime which swoops on suspects as they are about to kill.