Abusers who murder their partners now face tougher sentences after new rules were brought in.

Judges now have the power to impose longer jail terms for two new statutory aggravating factors – murders that involve strangulation or those that can be linked to the end of a relationship.

Campaigners have welcomed the new sentencing measures, but urged the courts to close the wide gap between punishments for killings inside and outside the home.

Bereaved families said they are pleased to see the changes come into force but urged the courts to make use of them and ensure abusers spend considerably longer behind bars.

Alex Davies-Jones, minister for victims and tackling violence against women and girls told Metro: ‘Murder at the end of a relationship is often the final act of cruelty by an ab

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