Raneem’s Law expanded to boost support for Domestic Abuse Victims

West Midlands Police will expand its Raneem’s Law pilot after receiving more than £440,000 in Home Office funding to improve emergency responses to domestic abuse victims.

The force has secured £440,820 to place more independent domestic abuse specialists in its 999 control rooms.

The expansion follows a successful first phase, which ran from March 2025 to March 2026.

Raneem’s Law was introduced in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Oudeh’s former partner in Solihull in 2018.

The initiative places specialist domestic abuse advisers alongside police call handlers to help identify risks and ensure victims receive faster, expert support.

West Midlands Police worked with Coventry Haven Women’s Aid and Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid during the pilot.

Almost 5,000 domestic abuse-related emergency calls were reviewed during the first phase.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Jen Mattinson said the additional funding would significantly expand the scheme.

She said the pilot initially placed one specialist in the control room during business hours from Monday to Thursday.

The specialists listened to emergency calls and assessed risks using a questionnaire developed with the force’s public protection unit.

Mattinson said the pilot improved supportive language used by call handlers and helped officers identify high-risk cases more effectively.

During phase one, only 11% of domestic abuse calls were reviewed because of staffing limitations.

That figure has now increased to 17% as the force begins the second phase.

The new funding will allow two or three specialists to work each shift between 8 am and 10 pm, seven days a week.

Partner charities are now recruiting additional staff to support the expanded service.

The Home Office has pledged to introduce Raneem’s Law across every police force in England and Wales by 2029.

The law was created following the deaths of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem.

On the night they were killed, Oudeh called West Midlands Police four times, expressing fears for her safety.

Officers had also attended 10 previous domestic abuse incidents linked to the case.

The expanded scheme aims to improve protection for domestic abuse victims by providing faster access to specialist support during emergency calls.

West Midlands Police hopes the changes will strengthen safeguarding measures and improve responses to high-risk incidents across the region.

The force said the additional specialists will help ensure more vulnerable victims receive timely support when they need it most.