In this paper we examine the effect of the abolition of capital punishment on the homicide rate in Great Britain. Previous studies have used econometric techniques to determine whether the death penalty exerts a significant deterrent effect. However, econometric studies have been severely criticized for failing to provide robust results. The method of investigation used in this paper is that of intervention analysis. Some questions are raised about the proper way to measure the intervention effect in integrated models subject to trend changes. However, for both England and Wales, and for Scotland, a statistically significant intervention effect is consistently detected, although the extent of the effect is difficult to determine precisely. We also examine the effect of several ‘social stress indicators' (e.g. suicide and unemployment rates and violent crime) upon the homicide rate.