Government to Embed Domestic Abuse Specialists in 999 Control Rooms

New pilot scheme aims to prevent domestic abuse and improve emergency response, following tragic deaths of Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem.

Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips describes domestic abuse as the 'Cinderella' of crimes, highlighting its historical lack of prioritization.
The pilot scheme, part of 'Raneem’s Law', will start in early 2025 and aims to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem were murdered in 2018 after multiple unheeded 999 calls; an inquest found police failures materially contributed to their deaths.
Nour Norris, the victims' relative, emphasizes the necessity for victims to be heard and safeguarded on their first 999 call.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Jess Phillips stress the importance of domestic abuse expertise in 999 control rooms to ensure proper response and understanding of the crime's severity.