A PANEL of experts will investigate whether lessons can be learnt from the Cwmbran fire tragedy.

A Domestic Homicide Review Panel has been set up by the Torfaen Community Safety Partnership panel to consider events which happened in the two years before a fire tore through 15 Tillsland, Coed Eva, on September 18, 2012, killing Kim Buckley, 46, her daughter Kayleigh 17, and six-month old granddaughter Kimberley.

Kayleigh's boyfriend Carl Mills, 28, of no fixed abode, was today found guilty on all three counts of murder.

The panel will be chaired by Janet Pickles, of children's charity NSPCC, and aims to achieve four key objectives.

They are:

  • Establish what lessons are to be learned from the domestic homicide, regarding the way in which local professionals and organisations work individually and together to safeguard potential victims;
  • dentify clearly what those lessons are both within and between agencies, how and within what timescales they will be acted on, and what is expected to change as a result.
  • Apply these lessons to agencies responses, including changes to policies and procedures as appropriate.
  • Prevent domestic violence and abuse homicide and improve agencies responses for all domestic violence and abuse victims and their children through improved intra and inter-agency working.

Ms Pickles, who was formerly senior policy adviser for the Welsh Government, specialises in violence against women and domestic abuse.

She will guide the panel through a "complex and rigorous process" and critically consider the contact agencies had with the family in the two years leading up to the blaze.

The group will work with family members and the community and consider all the issues the review presents.

It will be made up of experienced individuals from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Bron Afon Community Housing, Torfaen County Borough Council, Gwent Police, probation services and the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

Martin Henderson of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "Although tragedies such as this are rare many victims of domestic abuse are routinely threatened with violence, including the threat of arson. We always consider these threats seriously and would want members of the public to report any threat at the earliest opportunity."