By: Burton Jones
Raneem’s Law marks a significant turning point in how the U.K. addresses domestic abuse, particularly in strengthening the response of law enforcement. Announced by the Home Secretary as part of the government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) within the next decade, this law is named after Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem, who tragically lost their lives due to failures in the existing domestic abuse response standards. This new groundbreaking measure aims to ensure that no victim’s cry for help is overlooked or mishandled again.
One of the critical points of emphasis by the Labour Government with this initiative, set to begin from early 2025 onward, is the embedding of domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms. With almost 100 domestic abuse-related offenses recorded every hour, Raneem’s Law ensures that emergency calls related to domestic violence are identified and treated with the urgency they demand. Specialists will assess the risk immediately and work with officers to ensure that victims receive timely support and protection.
This initiative is particularly vital given the tragic story of Raneem, who contacted the police 13 times before her murder. Despite these cries for help, she did not receive the protection she desperately needed. On the night of her death, she made four emergency calls to 999, underscoring the need for a system with a bias for action to recognise the seriousness of each situation and prioritise the victims.
In addition to adding control room specialists, new domestic abuse protection orders will be piloted, giving police stronger tools to keep abusers away from their victims. These orders will not only impose stricter measures on perpetrators, but also give victims the power to apply for these protections themselves, making the system more accessible and taking a proactive, preventative stance versus a reactive one.
Raneem’s Law is not just about improving police response. It is about preventing more lives from being lost, representing a profound shift toward prioritising the safety of vulnerable, at-risk persons and holding perpetrators accountable — ideally deterring future incidents as a result of the known consequences in place and the strict commitment to a no-tolerance policy. By embedding specialists, leveraging technology for faster responses and expanding protective measures, the government is making strides toward a safer future for women and girls. As this pilot is rolled out, the ultimate goal is to build coordinated standards and practices where no call for help is ignored, and no victim is left unprotected.
The introduction of Raneem’s Law is a powerful reminder that change is possible when we listen to victims and those directly affected by domestic violence. By making systemic improvements in how domestic abuse cases are handled, the government is taking a crucial step toward reducing violence against women and girls and ensuring long-overdue justice.
Zetron is proud to offer solutions that support Raneem’s Law:
Aspire
Police forces using Aspire are well placed when it comes to the identification and safeguarding of vulnerable repeat callers such as those suffering from domestic abuse. Aspire enables call handlers to immediately identify a repeat caller’s vulnerabilities and, most importantly, see all call history for that individual. This data along with the current call notes can be transferred to the specific domestic abuse specialist who will be well reprised of the required information before they pick up the call.
Cortex
Utilising the ticker tape or global scratchpad features, Cortex users are always aware of which team member is assigned as the domestic abuse specialist on duty — anyone who receives a call can quickly transfer it to the specialist to fast-track the help needed.
Stream
Leveraging real time video streaming, call takers can use Stream to initiate a live feed with no pre-existing software, apps or downloads required. Giving instant visuals of the caller’s location to provide domestic abuse specialists with the situational awareness to protect the victim.
Sources:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-set-out-to-combat-violence-against-women-and-girls
