Experts being embedded in West Midlands Police control room after mother and daughter brutally murdered

A new scheme to help domestic abuse victims in the West Midlands has been introduced following the brutal murder of a woman and her mother.

‘Raneem’s Law’ will see domestic abuse specialists in police control rooms offer expert advice, specialist support and work to identify missed opportunities to properly safeguard victims. It is named in memory of Raneem Oudeh, who fatally stabbed along with her mother by her ex-partner after they broke up.

The 22-year-old split with Janbaz Tarin after discovering he had a secret wife and children in Afghanistan. She later repeatedly called 999 begging for help after being attacked by Tarin.

READ MORE: Police have ‘blood on hands’ over murders of mum-and-daughter, says relative

But the 22-year-old was stabbed to death along with her mother Khaola Saleem, 49, outside Ms Saleem’s home in Northdown Road, Solihull, on August 27, 2018. They were on the phone to police at the time.

It was weeks after the couple broke up and Raneem’s aunt claimed some 14 earlier 999 calls about the killer were “dismissed”. Tarin admitted the murders and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years.

Assistant chief constable Andy Hill, from West Midlands Police, apologised to the family on November 18, 2022 after a coroner blamed the police for ‘multiple failings’ in the murders.

Following a campaign by the victims’ relatives, West Midlands Police and four other forces are to trial the use of domestic abuse specialists in control rooms. Specialists from from Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid and Coventry Haven Women’s Aid will be involved.

Nour Norris, Khaola’s sister and Raneem’s aunt, said: ““Raneem called for help, and today, the system finally answered.

“I can’t express enough how deeply emotional and significant this moment is.

“After six relentless years of campaigning for justice, I am returning to the force that failed my sister, Khaola, and my niece, Raneem.

“West Midlands Police had the chance to save them. Raneem called 999, desperate for help, but the system did not listen. It did not act. And because of that failure, we lost them.

“I refuse to point fingers or place blame. I believed in change, and I believed in people wanting that to happen.

“Working alongside the government and the police, especially West Midlands Police, has been a journey of change.

“Raneem’s Law is now being implemented, and with it, a fundamental shift in how victims of domestic abuse are supported.

“Raneem deserved the help she needed, my sister, Khaola, who broke my heart because she was caught in all of this, deserved to live around her children.

“This is not just about saving lives; it is also about ensuring that victims who survive have the chance to truly live, free from fear and harm. They deserve safety, dignity, and a future.

“This moment proves that change only happens when we refuse to accept failure.

“We cannot wait for another tragedy. We must build the safeguards that should have been there all along.

‘I can’t express enough how deeply emotional and significant this moment is’

“And while nothing will bring Khaola and Raneem back, their voices, struggles, and sacrifices have led to a law that will save lives. Their legacy will live forever.”

The specialists will ensure calls for help are properly assessed, managed and responded to. Specifically, their duties will include:

• Providing advice to officers responding to incidents on the ground;
• Reviewing incoming domestic abuse cases and their risk assessments;
• Listening in to live calls and providing feedback to call handlers on victim engagement;
• Facilitating training sessions on domestic abuse for force control room staff;
• Ensuring victims are referred to specialist support services;
• Using expertise and understanding to manually check over the decisions made by 999 call handlers and identifying any missed opportunities to safeguard victims;
• Supporting the use of innovative technology such as responding to victims via videocall.

Read more: Tragic audio of mum murdered as she asked cops to arrest ex

The Government said it would ‘work closely’ with West Midlands Police and the other forces involved in the trial. If it works well there could be a national roll-out across all 43 forces and new statutory guidance.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Every 30 seconds, someone calls the police about domestic abuse – over 100 people every hour seeking urgent help.

“That’s why we are determined to overhaul the police emergency response to domestic abuse, making sure that victims get the specialist support and protection they need. That must be Raneem and Khaola’s legacy.

READ MORE: Murdered mum feared authorities would ‘take baby away’

“West Midlands has been determined to learn the lessons from the way Raneem and her mother were so badly failed and it is welcome that they, Bedfordshire, Humberside, Northumbria and Northamptonshire are all pioneering this ambitious approach to deliver the best possible response to victims at the worst time of their lives.

“We need to change the future for others, where we couldn’t for Raneem, as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.”

‘Behind every 999 call is someone’s daughter, mother, sister or friend in fear’

Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips said: “Raneem’s death showed us the devastating cost of missed opportunities.

“Behind every 999 call is someone’s daughter, mother, sister or friend in fear.

“That’s why getting the response right the first time, every time, is absolutely crucial.

“Embedding specialism and expertise into 999 control rooms will ensure that when victims make that brave call for help, they get the expert response they need.

“Working alongside Nour has shown me the true meaning of courage and determination. Her fight for Raneem’s Law, to change things for victims of domestic abuse before it is too late, will ultimately save lives.

“We are determined to halve violence against women and girls in a decade and won’t stop until every victim, up and down the country, gets the protection they deserve.”

Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox

‘Protecting vulnerable people and making sure they are listened to is our top priority’

Supt Jack Hadley, deputy head of force contact at West Midlands Police, said: “Since our digital abuse desk was set up last year, we have continued to make major improvements to the way we support victims of domestic abuse.

“This new trial will see experts from Birmingham & Solihull Women’s Aid and Coventry Haven Women’s Aid embedded within our control room to help improve our response to victims of domestic abuse and enhance the service we provide to them.

“They will be there right at the beginning of a call to expertly review decisions made by 999 call handlers; help them develop risk assessments and provide feedback on the handling of the call with the victim.

“This will ensure we provide the right level of response when it is needed the most.

“We have been working with Nour Norris for around 12 months now and we are continuing to make improvements to the way we help victims to ensure they are not put at further risk, especially when they make a call to us.

“Protecting vulnerable people and making sure that they are listened to is our top priority and by having experts in our control rooms right from the start we can ensure our victims are heard and get the specialist support they deserve.”