Domestic violence specialists put into police control rooms as 'Raneem's Law' rollout begins
'Raneem's Law' was created in memory of a Solihull woman who was murdered by her ex-partner.
Last updated 21st Feb 2025
Five police forces, including West Midlands Police, will be the first in the country to have domestic abuse specialists in its call centres to help tackle violence against women and girls.
'Raneem's Law' is being piloted in five areas following the murder of a woman from Solihull who was killed along with her mother, by her ex-partner, despite them making numerous emergency calls to police.
Raneem Oudeh, 22, and her mother Khaola Saleem were stabbed to death in August 2018.
She had made more than a dozen 999 calls in the weeks before she was killed, reporting domestic abuse, threats to kill and stalking by Janbaz Tarin. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years.
Four years after the murders, an inquest into their deaths found mistakes made by West Midlands Police had "materially contributed" to their deaths at the hands of Janbaz Tarin.
Nour Norris, Raneem's aunt, has been campaigning for 'Raneem's Law' since the women were killed.
Ms Norris 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."
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."
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. 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."
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.
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