26 February 2025

A new pilot will see domestic abuse specialists embedded in 999 control rooms with the aim of providing better support for victim-survivors.

The pilot, known as "Raneem's Law", will start in the West Midlands, Northumbria, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Humberside forces.

The initiative was established in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in August 2018.

An inquest into their deaths found multiple ways in which police failures into escalating domestic abuse materially contributed to the deaths of both women.

   

Sue Harper, Director of Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Prevention at Hestia, said:

“Raneem’s Law represents a welcome and significant step towards a more responsive and survivor-centred approach to domestic abuse cases. It seeks to ensure that frontline responders are guided by specialist expertise that prioritises survivors’ safety, enables accurate risk assessment and allows them to provide the right support at the right time.

We look forward to hearing how this pilot will be independently evaluated to ensure frontline responders are able to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the risks involved in domestic abuse cases. These learnings will be vital for the successful roll out across the country.

However, for Raneem’s Law to be truly effective, it must be part of a broader systemic culture shift. Embedding specialists in emergency call centres is a strong starting point, but real change requires multi-agency commitment, including police, social services, healthcare, and housing authorities, all working together with clear, shared accountability. Improved information sharing, stronger safeguarding measures, and consistent training across agencies are crucial.

Long-term, we need to ensure that all officers—not just specialists—are equipped to handle domestic abuse cases with the urgency, care, and understanding they require.”