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Merseyside survivors of domestic abuse to be better protected from violence with specialist domestic abuse advocates in 999 Control Rooms
VICTIMS and survivors of domestic abuse will be better protected from perpetrators after Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner secured:- £120,000 of funding to implement:- 'Raneem's Law' locally.
The flagship national programme is designed to strengthen the Police response to domestic abuse and help cut violence against women and girls by 50% within the next decade. The funding, secured from the Home Office, will enable:- 2 Independent Domestic Violence Advocates (IDVAs) to be embedded directly within Merseyside Police's:- 999 control rooms for the 1st time. Delivered in partnership with:- First Step and Sefton Council, the specialist advocates will provide live, expert support to call handlers and officers responding to domestic abuse incidents, ensuring victims receive the right help at the earliest possible moment. Raneem’s Law was established in memory of:- Raneem Oudeh and her Mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem's ex-husband in:- August 2018, in Solihull. There were 13 reports made to the Police about concerns for Raneem’s safety, but no arrests were made. On the night she was killed, she rang:- 999, 4 times, but the Police did not respond in time. The rollout in Merseyside follows a Home Office pilot in 2024, involving 5 Police Forces, that aimed to improve the Police response to victims of domestic abuse. Early evaluation showed that placing domestic abuse specialists inside control rooms improves risk assessment, strengthens safeguarding decisions and ensures victims are quickly connected to appropriate support services. Merseyside is one of 12 new forces to implement the scheme, which will see the 2 embedded IDVAs work alongside trained call handlers, providing real‑time advice, improving safeguarding decisions, and providing advice on risk assessments for victims across Merseyside. The scheme is due to go live on:- 6 July 2026. Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Emily Spurrell said:- "Domestic abuse remains one of the most significant causes of harm in our communities, and we know the moments when someone calls:- 999 are often the most dangerous and traumatic in a victim's life. Embedding domestic abuse experts at the very point of contact is a vital step in making sure victims get the right support from the very 1st moment they reach out. I'm proud that Merseyside is now part of this national programme. Raneem’s Law honours the memory of Raneem and her mother by strengthening the system that failed them, and by giving Police forces the tools they need to better identify, understand and respond to domestic abuse. This funding will help us protect more victims and survivors, improve our response and ensure specialist support is available exactly when it is needed most." Superintendent Tony Fairhurst, Contact and Crime Management, said:- "Our priority is to protect victims of domestic abuse and ensure they receive the safest and most effective response from the very 1st moment they contact us. Placing specialist domestic abuse advocates directly within our:- 999 Control Rooms will give our call handlers and officers immediate access to expert support, helping us to assess risk more accurately and safeguard victims more quickly. Raneem's Law represents an important step forward in strengthening the policing response to domestic abuse nationally, and we welcome the opportunity to implement it here in Merseyside. By working closely with our partners and embedding specialist knowledge at the heart of our emergency response, we can better identify those at risk, intervene earlier, and ensure victims get the help they need at the most critical time." Emma Kay, Head of Services, The First Step said:- "It's incredibly positive that Merseyside has been chosen to take part in the extended pilot for Raneem’s Law. And we are really pleased to be partnering with Merseyside Police and the Police Commissioner's Office to deliver this specialist role within the Force Control Room. At 'The First Step,' we know how crucial it is that this work is carried out by independent domestic abuse specialists. Having IDVAs embedded directly in the Control Room means victims can receive expert support from the very 1st moment they reach out for help. This pilot is all about identifying risk at the earliest possible stage. By working alongside Control Room staff in real time, we can help improve frontline responses, strengthen victim safety, and prevent abuse from escalating. Getting that initial response right makes all the difference.” This announcement builds on the PCC’s wider work to tackle domestic abuse and VAWG, including:- investment in specialist support services, perpetrator programmes, safer accommodation funding and work with partners to improve Police response and victim confidence. COMMENTS (0)
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