On 21st February the government scheme to embed domestic abuse specialists in 999 call centres was rolled out to West Midlands, Northumbria, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Humberside Police. The measure is intended to improve the police response to victims of domestic abuse and forms part of the Government’s plan to better protect victims, pursue perpetrators and halve violence against women and girls in a decade.
The announcement of the launch from the Government set out the duties of the domestic abuse advisers as:
- providing advice to officers responding to incidents on the ground
- reviewing incoming domestic abuse cases and their risk assessments
- listening in to live calls and providing feedback to call handlers on victim engagement
- facilitating training sessions on domestic abuse for force control room staff
- ensuring victims are referred to specialist support services
- using expertise and understanding to manually check over the decisions made by 999 call handlers and identifying any missed opportunities to safeguard victims
- supporting the use of innovative technology such as responding to victims via videocall
The government announcement stated –
“The government will work closely with these first forces to gain insight and understanding into how this new approach is working, to inform a national roll-out across all 43 forces and 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 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. That must be Raneem and Khaola’s legacy.
West Midlands has 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.
Raneem’s Law was established in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in August 2018. There were 13 reports made to the police about concerns for Raneem’s safety, but no arrests were made. On the night she was killed, she rang 999 four times but the police did not respond in time.”
Nour Norris, lead campaigner, aunt and sister of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem, said:
“Raneem called for help, and today, the system finally answered.
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.
I refuse to point fingers or place blame. I believed in change, and I believed in people wanting that to happen. 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.
Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Jess Phillips said:
Raneem’s death showed us the devastating cost of missed opportunities.
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.
Working alongside Nour has shown me the true meaning of courage and determination. Her fight for Raneem’s Law, to change things for victims of domestic abuse before it is too late, will save lives. We are determined to halve violence against women and girls in a decade and won’t stop until every victim, up and down the country, gets the protection they deserve.”
National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Domestic Abuse, Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, said:
“When a victim reports domestic abuse, they must have confidence that they will be protected from harm, which is why it’s so important that we get our response right from the moment we are called.
Forces work hard every day to ensure victims receive the right response and support, and embedding expertise and victim advocacy at the earliest opportunity is vital.
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.”
For the Government press release see here
Responding to the pilot launch of Raneem’s Law, Sophie Francis-Cansfield, Head of Policy at Women’s Aid, said:
“Last week, the Government launched the pilot of Raneem’s Law, embedding domestic abuse specialists in the 999 control rooms of five forces across the country, with the aim of improving police responses to domestic abuse. While the role out of this pilot is a positive improvement, domestic abuse specialists must be included at all stages of police response, including the investigation process, to ensure that survivors are protected and perpetrators are held to account.
Women’s Aid are pleased to see that alongside the pilot, the Government are providing £2.2 million in funding for Raneem’s Law and an additional £13 million to establish a national policing centre for England and Wales, but funding commitments need to be made to the specialist domestic abuse services that support survivors and not just to policing.
In order for the Government to fulfil their pledge to halve violence against women and girls over the next 10 years, there needs to be a whole-system response, which as the National Police Chief’s Council have recognised, should go further than the criminal justice system alone. As the pilots expands, we need to see police working with their local service to ensure the best support can be accessed.”
For the Women’s Aid press release see here
Original reporting by Family Law Week