To better support victims of domestic abuse, the UK will place domestic abuse experts in the 999 dispatch centers of five police forces. This pilot program is called "Ranime's Law," named after the tragedy in 2018 when Ranime Ouade and her mother, Khaoula Saleem, were killed by Ranime's former partner, Janbaz Tarin. This initiative aims to prevent similar tragedies by providing immediate expert support during emergency calls.
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02-23, 2025Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the initiative as part of Labour's plan to "completely overhaul" the police's emergency response to domestic abuse. These experts will be stationed at the dispatch centers of the West Midlands, Northumberland, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, and Humberside police forces. This strategic placement will enable faster and more informed responses to domestic abuse situations.
The government has confirmed that it will provide £2.2 million in funding for the first phase of "Ranime's Law" in the next fiscal year. Cooper first proposed the initiative in 2024 when she was Shadow Home Secretary, after concluding that agencies had "missed opportunities" to protect the two women who were killed in Solihull. In November 2022, an investigation concluded that errors made by West Midlands Police had a "material impact on their deaths." Ms. Ouade had called the police four times on the night Tarin killed them, reporting concerns for her safety.
As part of the pilot project, these experts will review incoming domestic abuse calls and provide advice to officers responding to incidents in the field. They will also provide training courses on domestic abuse to staff at the force dispatch centers and ensure that victims are referred to specialized support services. Noor Norris, the aunt and sister of Ms. Ouade and Ms. Saleem, and a leading advocate, stated: "Ranime should have received the help she needed, and my sister Khaoula, who was caught up in all of this, breaks my heart; she should have been living her life with her children." This comprehensive approach will help bridge gaps in the current system.
Cooper stated after announcing the new policy: "West Midlands Police are determined to learn the lessons and learn from their serious failures towards Ranime and her mother. It is heartening that they, Bedfordshire, Humberside, Northumberland, and Northamptonshire are all pioneering this ambitious approach to provide the best possible response at victims’ most difficult moments. We need to change other people's futures, where we couldn't for Ranime, as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade." The policy represents a significant step towards improving victim support.
It is anticipated that these first five experts will contribute to a nationwide rollout across all 43 police forces in England and Wales. Minister for Safeguarding and Violence against Women and Girls, Jess Phillips, stated that Ranime's death demonstrated the "devastating cost of missed opportunities." She said: "Working with Noor has shown me the true meaning of courage and determination. She has fought for 'Ranime's Law,' which aims to change the situation for victims of domestic abuse before it is too late, and it will save lives." The national expansion aims to ensure consistent support for victims across the country.
