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Victims of domestic abuse in the Northumbria area are now receiving a more specialist police response to calls for help, as the first domestic abuse specialists are embedded in five 999 police control rooms across the country.
Northumbria Police will pioneer this new approach to improve the police response to victims of domestic abuse, alongside the Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Humberside and West Midlands forces.
From today, all five forces will have independent domestic abuse specialists working across their 999 control rooms, offering expert advice, specialist support and working to identify missed opportunities to properly safeguard victims.
These domestic abuse specialists will ensure that calls for help are properly assessed, managed and responded to. Specifically, their duties can include:
- 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
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.
“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.”
Northumbria Police Head of Communications, Rachel Walters, added: “We are delighted to have been selected as one of the five forces to pilot this initiative, which will provide extra support to officers and staff dealing with highly sensitive situations.
“We are in the process of embedding two specialists within our emergency contact centre, who will provide advice, support and feedback to call handlers and attending officers.
“Often our call handlers are the first point of contact for victims of domestic abuse seeking help from police, so it’s key we get our response right. Not only will it provide our contact centre staff with extra insight when dealing with victims of domestic abuse, but it will also better prepare attending officers for the situations they’re about to face.
“Having these specialists on board will only strengthen our response and ensure people are receiving the best possible service. We want victims to know we’re here for you and we will support you in any way we can. Please reach out to the police or one of the support agencies available to report any concerns relating to domestic abuse.
“As a Force, we will do our upmost to protect you and bring the perpetrator to justice.”
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