🔴 What a DASH Score of 21 Means
A DASH score of 21 places a case firmly in the high-risk category.
In most UK police forces and safeguarding services:
- 14+ is considered high risk
- 21 is well above the threshold
This level of score indicates a significant risk of serious harm or homicide, based on known evidence from domestic homicide reviews.
⚠️ What a Score That High Signals
A score of 21 usually reflects the presence of multiple, compounding high-risk indicators, such as:
- Coercive control
- Escalation in abuse
- Threats (explicit or implicit)
- Intimidation or fear
- Stalking or monitoring
- Isolation
- Abuse around separation
- Impact on children
- History of controlling or violent behaviour
👉 It does not require visible injuries
👉 It does not require a diagnosis
👉 It does not require the abuser to “lose control”
It means the pattern is dangerous.
🚨 What Should Happen at This Level
A DASH score of 21 should normally trigger:
- Immediate safeguarding
- MARAC referral (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference)
- Allocation of an IDVA (Independent Domestic Violence Advocate)
- Multi-agency information sharing
- A coordinated safety plan
- Ongoing risk monitoring
If this is not happening, the score is being misunderstood or minimised.
❌ Common Misinterpretations (That Are Wrong)
- ❌ “It’s just a questionnaire”
- ❌ “He seems calm, so it can’t be that risky”
- ❌ “There’s no recent violence”
- ❌ “She didn’t disclose everything”
A DASH of 21 already accounts for:
- Partial disclosure
- Trauma responses
- Non-physical abuse
- Pattern-based risk
🧠 Why a Score Like 21 Matters
DASH is based on what was present in cases where people were seriously injured or killed.
A score this high means:
“This situation shares many features with cases that ended in severe harm or death.”
It is a preventive tool, not a prediction — but it is not alarmist.
🕊️ For Survivors: The Most Important Truth
A DASH score of 21 means:
- You are not exaggerating
- You are not being dramatic
- Your fear is evidence-based
- Professionals are expected to take this seriously
You do not need:
- More bruises
- A diagnosis
- A perfect disclosure
You already met the threshold for urgent protection.
🌱 Final Line
A DASH score of 21 is a red flag, not a suggestion.
