Six people are dead after a mass shooting in the US state of Iowa, prompting urgent warnings from British police chiefs about the risk of similar domestic violence attacks here. The tragedy, which unfolded in a quiet residential area of Des Moines, has left communities reeling and reignited debates about gun control and the wider societal roots of such violence.
UK policing leaders have expressed deep concern that the pattern of mass killings seen in America could cross the Atlantic. In a joint statement, the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: “While we do not face the same scale of gun violence as the United States, the underlying drivers of domestic abuse and misogyny are present in every society. We must learn the lessons from Iowa before it is too late.”
The victims in Iowa are believed to be family members, with the suspect also dead. Details remain sparse, but early reports suggest the attack was carried out by a male relative with a history of domestic abuse. This mirrors many US mass shootings, where perpetrators often have a documented pattern of violence against women and children.
For British police, the threat is not hypothetical. Domestic abuse accounts for nearly one in five violent crimes in England and Wales, with two women a week killed by a partner or ex-partner. While firearms are less accessible here, knives and other weapons are increasingly used in domestic homicides. Senior officers fear that without intervention, the UK could see its own version of a mass domestic killing.
The warning comes as the government faces pressure to strengthen the Domestic Abuse Act and improve responses to non-fatal strangulation and coercive control. Campaigners argue that early intervention is key, and that police too often treat domestic incidents as “low-level” until it is too late.
Rachel Williams, whose daughter was killed by her partner in 2021, said: “Every day, women are dying in their own homes. The state is failing to protect them. If we do not act now, we will see more mass killings. It is not just about guns. It is about a culture that excuses violence.”
Police chiefs are calling for a national domestic abuse register, similar to the sex offenders register, and better training for officers to identify high-risk perpetrators. They also want more investment in refuges and support services, which have been cut in many areas.
The Iowa massacre is a stark reminder that domestic violence is not a private matter. It is a public emergency. As one senior officer put it: “Every victim who does not get help is a potential headline waiting to happen.”
