First domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms

Raneem’s Law has been launched to facilitate the first domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms across five forces in a measure to bolster the support available for domestic abuse victims.

West Midlands, Northumbria, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, and Humberside Police are all piloting this new approach to improve the police response to victims of domestic abuse.

This follows the murder of Raneem Oudeh, 22, and her mother Khaola Saleem, 49 by Raneem’s ex-partner in 2018, despite her calling 999 four times scared for her safety the night she and her mother were killed, but police forces did not respond in time. There were 13 reports made to the police connected to her case in total, and Raneem’s Law was established in memory of her and her mother.

These domestic specialists, trailing Raneem’s Law, will ensure that calls for help regarding domestic abuse are properly assessed, managed, and responded to. These duties include providing advice to officers responding on the ground, reviewing incoming domestic abuse cases and their risk assessments, and listening in to live calls and providing feedback to call handlers.

They will also organise training sessions on domestic abuse for control room staff, ensure victims are referred to specials support services, checking decisions made by 999 call handlers to identify any missed opportunities to safeguard victims, and supporting the use of innovative technology like responding to victims via video call.

The government will work alongside these first forces to gain insight into how this new approach could be modified and applied to all 43 forces across the country and implement new statutory guidance for Raneem’s Law as soon as possible.

Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Every 30 seconds, someone calls the police about domestic abuse — over 100 people per hour seeking urgent help.

“That’s why we are determined to overhaul the police emergency response to domestic abuse, making sure that victims get the specialist support and protection they need. That must be Raneem and Khaola’s legacy.

“West Midlands have been determined to learn the lessons from the way Raneem and her mother were so badly failed and it is welcome that they, Bedfordshire, Humberside, Northumbria and Northamptonshire are all pioneering this ambitious approach to deliver the best possible response to victims at the worst time of their lives.

“We need to change the future for others, where we couldn’t for Raneem, as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”

Domestic abuse affects more than two million people every year, with the police receiving a call related to domestic abuse every 30 seconds, on average. But only one in five victims are estimated to report these incidents other than the police.

In order to overhaul the UK’s approach and response to domestic violence, the government is backing Raneem’s Law with a £2.2 million package to fund its first stages over the next financial year. This follows a £13 million investment into a new intelligence-led national policing centre for England and Wales announced earlier this year, which will bring together 100 officers to focus on tackling crimes like domestic abuse, stalking, and sexual offences and ensure that victims are protected.