Northumbria PCC champions domestic abuse specialists in control centers, enhancing victim support and police response.
These experts will give police better responses to abuse incidents. The change follows a tragic case from 2018 linked to the murders of Raneem Oudeh and her mom, Khaola Saleem, committed by Raneem’s ex-husband, and subsequently led to the creation of Raneem’s Law. Raneem had reported concerns thirteen times, but police made no arrests before the night she died, when she called 999 four times. Sadly, police didn’t arrive soon enough.
Dungworth stressed the importance of the first call. Her office already funds control room specialists who offer victim support at certain hours. This pilot program expands that support further and upskills call handlers.
Handlers will learn to support victims and advise officers. Specialists can help ensure immediate safety, build trust, and identify risks quickly. A specialist helps protect the victim and this support also helps the investigation, potentially getting offenders to court sooner for prosecutors.
Northumbria Police will test this new approach along with Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Humberside, and West Midlands. All five forces gain abuse specialists today who will work in 999 control rooms, provide support, spot missed chances, and safeguard victims more effectively.
Jess Phillips, the Minister for Safeguarding, also spoke about Raneem’s Law. She noted Raneem’s death showed a “devastating cost,” emphasizing that each call represents a frightened person and responding correctly the first time is vital.
Phillips praised Nour’s courage, highlighting her fight for Raneem’s Law. The new experts in control rooms will help victims receive the expert help they need. These efforts aim to change things for abuse victims, and these changes will save lives in the long run. The ultimate goal is to reduce violence against women, and they won’t stop until every victim feels safe.