A recent report reveals that over 170 mothers have been killed by their sons in the UK over the past 15 years, accounting for nearly one in 10 of all women killed by men during this period. The findings have sparked calls for government intervention to address the growing issue of matricide and provide support to mothers at risk.
The analysis, part of the 2,000 Women report by the Femicide Census, sheds light on the often-hidden crisis of matricide, uncovering disturbing trends in the deaths of more than 2,000 women killed by men since 2009. According to the data, mental health problems were a factor in 58% of matricide cases, while substance abuse and the prolonged cohabitation of adult children with parents due to housing issues were also identified as contributing factors.
Karen Ingala Smith, co-founder of the Femicide Census, said: “Male violence against mothers is a largely unrecognised but brutal reality. What we see in these figures is the tip of the iceberg. These are the women who have been killed, but there will be many more hidden victims out there living their lives in absolute misery.”
Researchers from the universities of Oxford and Manchester, working in collaboration with the Femicide Census, found that 70% of perpetrators involved in matricide between 2009 and 2021 had mental health problems. However, there is currently no specific prevention policy for mothers caring for mentally ill sons. Prof Rachel Condry, one of the researchers, commented: “Parents who are experiencing [violence from their children] often don’t identify it as a form of domestic abuse, and it’s incredibly difficult for them to seek help or for the problem to be recognised.”
The report emphasizes that the government must take action to address the issue of matricide and ensure better support for mothers facing violence from their sons. Despite the alarming statistics, experts argue that there is still a lack of awareness and recognition of the issue.
The findings are part of a wider trend of increasing violence against women in the UK, with the report revealing that one woman is killed every three days by a man. Of the 2,000 women killed, 90% were killed by a family member, partner, or someone known to the victim, with 61% killed by a current or former partner. Nearly half of the women were stabbed, and 27% were strangled. In many cases, overkill was used, with excessive violence inflicted beyond what was necessary to cause death.
The report also examines the legal outcomes of femicide cases, revealing disparities in sentencing. While 60% of men convicted of killing women were found guilty of murder, 22% were convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility or culpable homicide, and 12% took their own lives. The report calls for a reassessment of how such cases are handled within the justice system.
Jess Phillips, the violence against women and girls minister, responded to the findings, saying: “One dead woman is one woman too many – but here we have 2,000. This is a fight that demands the very best from all of us and we must rise to the occasion.”
The report, which will be published ahead of International Women’s Day, highlights the urgent need for both societal awareness and governmental action to end the epidemic of femicide in the UK.
