The Home Secretary has announced a new initiative to tackle domestic abuse by embedding domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms. This is part of the government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade.

Having specialists in control rooms will form part of ‘Raneem’s Law’ in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in 2018. There were 13 reports made to the police about concerns for Raneem’s safety, yet no arrests were made. On the night she was murdered, she rang 999 four times.

The initiative will begin as a pilot scheme in selected police forces from early 2025. Specialists with expertise in domestic abuse will be embedded in 999 control rooms in England and Wales, and will offer advice and carry out risk assessments with officers on the ground, to ensure that victims get a fast response and get the services they need as quickly as possible.

Domestic abuse experts will be embedded in 999 control rooms as part of the government’s pledge to combat violence against women and girls