More victims and survivors of domestic abuse will be protected by
specialists in 999 control rooms, as the number of
forces operating the pioneering Raneem's Law' is
trebled.
Six months on from the government's Violence Against Women and
Girls Strategy - Phase Two of the rollout of Raneem's Law' will
see domestic abuse specialists embedded in 12 more 999 control
rooms across England and Wales. This includes police forces in
Thames Valley, West Yorkshire, Essex, Merseyside and North Wales
- bringing the total number of forces to 17.
The measure was established in memory of Raneem Oudeh
and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem's
ex-husband in August 2018 despite multiple 999 calls to police -
who failed to turn up.
The initiative has already helped to protect victims, with early
reports from police forces suggesting that Raneem's Law' has led
to:
- increased confidence among call handlers and officers in
handling domestic abuse incidents
- earlier identification of high-risk cases
- swifter action taken to deploy safeguarding measures and
protect victims
Placing domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms aims to
strengthen the police response to domestic abuse from the first
point of contact. The specialists oversee how calls for help are
assessed and managed, often providing real-time advice
to responding officers and call handlers.
They also review cases and risk assessments, support
staff training and ensure victims are swiftly referred
to specialist services where needed.
The news comes as the government marks one year since the
launch Raneem's Law,' which has so far embedded specialists in
West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Humberside and
Northumbria. It is part of the government's unprecedented mission
to halve violence against women and girls in a
decade.
With an estimated 3.8 million people experiencing domestic abuse
last year, the continued expansion of Raneem's Law' is a vital
step towards ensuring that every victim - no matter where they
live - can rely on a system built to protect
them.
As part of its ambitious Violence against Women and Girls
Strategy, the government has committed to rolling out Raneem's
Law' across every police force in England and Wales by
2029.
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and
Girls said:
Last year, one in 8 women experienced domestic abuse, sexual
assault, or stalking. No society that tolerates this level of
violence can claim to be safe for women.
That's why we are rolling out the pioneering Raneem's Law'
to another 12 police forces in England and Wales, because every
victim - no matter where they live - should be able to rely on a
system that truly supports them.
But we will not stop there. We will deploy the full power of the
state to make this country safe for women and girls.
Nour Norris, lead campaigner, aunt and sister of Raneem Oudeh and
Khaola Saleem, said:
When my sister Khaola and my niece Raneem called for help, they
should have been heard, understood and protected. Instead, our
family lost two beautiful lives in circumstances that should
never have happened.
Every step forward for Raneem's Law' is deeply emotional for me
because it comes from unimaginable pain and loss. Knowing that 12
more police forces will have domestic abuse specialists in their
999 control rooms gives me hope that other families may be spared
the heartbreak that ours lives with every day.
Raneem's Law' is more than a policy. It is a legacy built on love
for my sister and niece and on the determination that their
voices, and the voices of all victims of domestic abuse, are
never ignored again.
I am incredibly proud to see this expansion and remain committed
to ensuring that every victim who reaches out for help is met
with understanding, expertise and, most importantly, protection.
This announcement builds on the government's progress to tackle
violence against women and girls including through rolling out
the pioneering Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to provide
victims with protection for as long as needed.
We are also investing over £1 billion over the next 3 years to
support victims of violence against women and girls. This
includes nearly £500 million for safe accommodation for
domestic abuse victims, £550 million for counselling,
court guidance and children's services, and up to £55
million for specialist therapeutic and
support.
This forms part of the government's ambitious Violence against
Women and Girls Strategy which deploys the full power of the
state to halve this issue in a decade.
The full list of Raneem's Law' Phase 2 sites:
