Government sets out measures to combat VAWG

The home secretary has announced new measures intended to aid the police's fight against violence against women and girls (VAWG).

As part of the government's pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade, domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in 999 control rooms.

Last year, on average, almost 100 domestic-abuse-related offences were recorded by the police every hour.

The measures will form part of ‘Raneem’s Law’, which is named after Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in 2018. 13 reports were made to the police about concerns for Raneem’s safety, with no arrests made. On the night of her murder, Raneem called 999 four times.

A pilot will be rolled out across targeted police forces from early 2025, with specialist embedded in control rooms to advise on risk assessments and work with officers on the ground, to ensure that victims get a fast response when needed and are referred to support services as quickly as possible.

The specialists will be supported by dedicated teams to improve how the police respond to these kinds of calls, including using new technology to respond more quickly such as rapid video response.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Victims of appalling domestic abuse need to know that the police will be there for them. Today’s measures are the start of this new government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.

"Failure to understand the seriousness of domestic abuse costs lives and far too many have already been lost. That’s why introducing ‘Raneem’s Law’ in memory of Raneem and her mother Khaola is so vital – and has been a personal priority for me.

"Through an expert-led, practical police response, we need to ensure that when victims and survivors of abuse have the courage to come forward it will be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. Our mission is for the whole of government, agencies, organisations and communities to work together to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, and today is just one step of many towards tangible and long-lasting change."

Nour Norris, lead campaigner, aunt and sister of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem, said: "Six years ago, when I lost my niece Raneem and sister Khaola, my world fell apart. Their suffering and the way the system failed them is something I will never forget. That’s when I began my campaign, Secure Life for Raneem’s Law. What started as a quest for justice for my family became a mission to improve outcomes for all domestic abuse victims everywhere.

"Raneem’s Law will ensure that domestic abuse specialists are present in 999 control rooms so victims’ calls for help are taken seriously and save lives by making sure no warning signs are ignored, unlike in Raneem’s story. I am deeply proud that this government has listened and acted quickly to make Raneem’s Law a reality. Their commitment to addressing domestic violence has shown me that change is possible when we refuse to stay silent.

"Knowing that Raneem’s name will now be a source of hope and protection for others fills me with a sense of pride I cannot put into words. Raneem’s memory lives on in this law, and it means the world to me to know that her story will help save lives."

Furthermore, from November, through the launch of the new domestic abuse protection order pilot, more domestic abusers will be forced to stay away from their victims and face tougher sanctions if they fail to do so.

It will be a legal requirement for perpetrators to inform the police of any change in name or address, imposing electronic tagging, and ordering assessments for behaviour change programmes.

The orders will cover all forms of domestic abuse, including violence, stalking and controlling behaviour.

Minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls Jess Phillips said: "For too long, we know victims haven’t had the protection they deserve. We have set out an ambitious mission – to halve violence against women and girls in a decade – and offering the strongest and most effective response to incidents of domestic abuse is absolutely fundamental to this.

"Embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms and rolling out new protective orders to pilot forces and courts across the country are both huge steps towards the best response for victims possible.

"Working with Nour, Raneem’s aunt and Khaola’s sister, has been one of the greatest honours of my life. We must make sure that when we change our policies those are the people that it comes from. The people with direct experience."

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Domestic Abuse, Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, said: "Domestic abuse is a complex and entrenched societal problem that can inflict life-long harm on victims and families, and accounts for a significant proportion of police-recorded crime.

"Providing support for victims and their families and to introduce effective and sustainable solutions to disrupt perpetrators is vital.

"Policing is working hard to improve the way it responds to domestic abuse, from the moment a crime is reported through to conviction.

"We remain deeply committed to working with partners, including government, as part of a whole-system approach to safeguard victims and pursue perpetrators. We welcome the government’s commitment to making improvements in this area."

At the same time, the Mayor of London has announced £3 million of investment to support grassroots community groups tackling violence against women and girls.

The investment in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Grassroots Fund will be used to deliver tailored support for thousands of women and girls affected by violence and exploitation in London.

The initial £3m MOPAC VAWG Grassroots Fund supported 41 organisations and over 30,000 women, girls and families from minoritised communities, between 2021 and 2023.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am determined to ensure that ending violence against women and girls is treated with the utmost urgency by our police and society as a whole. Local grassroots services know their communities and are best placed to help, but we know the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is having an unprecedented impact on women and children experiencing violence and abuse and the life-saving services they need.

“That’s why I have today announced £3million more in funding for my Violence Against Women and Girls Grassroots Fund to help keep doors open for key and specialised services for underrepresented communities who too often have nowhere to turn.

“As we continue to work together to build a safer London for everyone, I’m determined to do everything I can to help these organisations which are experiencing a surge in demand to support more women and girls. I look forward to working closely with the new Government in the coming months to do even more to support the most vulnerable in our society and help them access the one-to-one help they desperately need and deserve.”