Police forces chosen for domestic abuse 999 pilot

Domestic abuse specialists are to be embedded in 999 police control rooms in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

They will advise call handlers and police officers as part of a pilot scheme until 31 March 2027.

The two police forces are among 12 chosen for the expansion of Raneem's Law, which was established in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem. They were murdered by Raneem's ex-husband in Solihull in August 2018 despite multiple 999 calls to police - who failed to turn up.

The Home Office has pledged that, under Raneem's Law, domestic abuse specialists will be deployed across every police force in England and Wales by 2029.

The expansion of the scheme will bring the total number of police forces taking part to 17.

Charities Juno Women's Aid, Nottinghamshire Women's Aid and Equation Nottingham will deliver the scheme in Nottinghamshire.

Anthea Tainton, chief executive officer of Equation, said: "Specialist workers will provide live support to those taking the calls to understand the risk to survivors and make sure categorisation of risk is recorded correctly.

"It is really important we learn from previous experiences and improve the response to survivors who are high risk and at immediate harm from perpetrators."

Det Supt Lee Townley, Nottinghamshire Police's strategic lead for domestic abuse, said it was "so important that we get our response right from the moment we are called".

He added: "By working closely with the specialists, we will undoubtedly protect more victims and survivors, improve our response and ensure specialist support is available exactly when it is needed most."

Nottinghamshire's Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Angela Kandola added the collaboration would ensure "a better understanding of what the victim needs".

She said: "The expert knowledge will mean the force can identify high-risk cases earlier and accelerate how quickly victims receive safeguarding measures to keep them safe. It could literally save lives."

In Derbyshire, support will be provided by The Elm Foundation.

Det Ch Insp Eleanor Develin, of Derbyshire Police, said: "At the heart of this initiative, it's about victim safeguarding and our ability to recognise and understand risk.

"Domestic abuse is often very complex. Victims don't always recognise the level of risk that they're facing, so it's our responsibility to recognise that risk."

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