Domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in some 999 control rooms under a new law named in memory of a woman murdered by her ex-partner while making an emergency call.
Raneem Oudeh, 22, and her mother Khaola Saleem, 49, were stabbed to death by Ms Oudeh’s ex-partner Janbaz Tarin, then 21, in Solihull in 2018.
She phoned 999 four times to report concerns for their safety on the night they died, and officers had previously responded to 10 domestic abuse incidents linked to the case.
Raneem’s aunt, Nour Norris, welcomed a ‘fundamental shift in how victims of domestic abuse are supported’, saying: ‘Raneem called for help, and today the system finally answered.’
Under Raneem’s Law, domestic abuse specialists will work in emergency control rooms in five forces – West Midlands, Northumbria, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Humberside Police.
It could be rolled out across the whole of England and Wales by the end of the year.
Among the duties of the embedded experts will be giving advice to officers responding to incidents on the ground; reviewing incoming domestic abuse cases and their risk assessments; and listening in to live calls before giving feedback to call handlers.
They will also train force control room staff on domestic abuse and support the use of technology, including responding to victims with a video call.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a year-long campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
Throughout the year we will be bringing you stories that shine a light on the sheer scale of the epidemic.
With the help of our partners at Women’s Aid, This Is Not Right aims to engage and empower our readers on the issue of violence against women.
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Read more:
- Introducing This Is Not Right: Metro’s year-long violence against women campaign
- Yvette Cooper’s message to abusers and rapists: The streets don’t belong to you
- Remembering the women killed by men in 2024
- Stories about violence against women don’t make an impact – this is why
- Men – we need your help to end violence against women
- What to do if your loved one is at risk from domestic abuse
Ms Norris visited West Midlands Police’s control room in Birmingham with safeguarding minister Jess Phillips this week.
She said: ‘I can’t express enough how deeply emotional and significant this moment is.
‘After six relentless years of campaigning for justice, I am returning to the force that failed my sister, Khaola, and my niece, Raneem.
‘West Midlands Police had the chance to save them. Raneem called 999, desperate for help, but the system did not listen. It did not act. And because of that failure, we lost them.’
She said she was refusing to ‘point fingers or place blame’, instead choosing to believe change would come in the aftermath.
Ms Norris added: ‘Working alongside the Government and the police, especially West Midlands Police, has been a journey of change.
‘Raneem’s Law is now being implemented, and with it, a fundamental shift in how victims of domestic abuse are supported.
‘Raneem deserved the help she needed, my sister, Khaola, who broke my heart because she was caught in all of this, deserved to live around her children.
‘This is not just about saving lives; it is also about ensuring that victims who survive have the chance to truly live, free from fear and harm.
‘They deserve safety, dignity, and a future.
‘This moment proves that change only happens when we refuse to accept failure. We cannot wait for another tragedy.
‘We must build the safeguards that should have been there all along.
‘And while nothing will bring Khaola and Raneem back, their voices, struggles, and sacrifices have led to a law that will save lives. Their legacy will live forever.’
Learn more about domestic abuse in the UK
- One in 4 women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives
- ONS research revealed that, in 2023, the police recorded a domestic abuse offence approximately every 40 seconds
- Yet Crime Survey for England & Wales data for the year ending March 2023 found only 18.9% of women who experienced partner abuse in the last 12 months reported the abuse to the police
- According to Refuge, 84% of victims in domestic abuse cases are female, with 93% of defendants being male
- Safe Lives reports that disabled women are twice as likely to experience domestic abuse as non-disabled women, and typically experience domestic abuse for a longer period of time before accessing support
- Refuge has also found that, on average, it takes seven attempts before a woman is able to leave for good.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said an ‘overhaul’ of how police emergency rooms respond to domestic abuse ‘must be Raneem and Khaola’s legacy’.
She said: ‘Every 30 seconds, someone calls the police about domestic abuse – over 100 people every 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.’
Ms Phillips paid tribute to Ms Norris for her ‘courage and determination’ and said her fight to ‘change things for victims of domestic abuse before it is too late will save lives’.
‘Raneem’s death showed us the devastating cost of missed opportunities,’ she added.
‘Behind every 999 call is someone’s daughter, mother, sister or friend in fear. That’s why getting the response right the first time, every time, is absolutely crucial.
Embedding specialism and expertise into 999 control rooms will ensure that when victims make that brave call for help, they get the expert response they need.’
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for domestic abuse, Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, said: ‘It’s important that we are both evidence and victim-led in our approach, and I would like to thank the victims and survivors, families and support organisations that continue to work with us to improve policing’s response to domestic abuse.’
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