Specialists help police support Domestic Abuse victims in Hampshire and Isle of Wight

Domestic abuse specialists embedded in police control room under Raneem’s Law pilot taking place in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

A new initiative to improve police support for victims of domestic abuse is being trialled across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Domestic abuse specialists are being embedded into the police control room to support call handlers dealing with initial reports.

The aim is to help identify and disrupt perpetrators sooner, reduce harm to victims, and make sure any missed safeguarding opportunities are quickly picked up.

Call handlers’ decisions will be reviewed, with feedback provided on victim engagement and support.

The pilot is funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones, with specialists from the charity Stop Domestic Abuse available seven days a week.

It forms part of the phased national roll-out of Raneem’s Law, introduced after the murders of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem, in the West Midlands in 2018.

Donna Jones said: “This pilot will give domestic abuse victims in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight the chance that Raneem Oudeh sadly never had.

“The staff in our control room work tirelessly in what is often a high-pressure environment. The addition of these DA specialists will help us to further provide the best service we can to victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

“Working with Stop Domestic Abuse, one of the local DA commissioned services, helps to underpin my commitment to helping take action on violence against women and girls across our two counties.”

Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Domestic Abuse tactical lead, Detective Chief Inspector Alex Spratt said: “It is vital that we strengthen our response to domestic abuse from the first point of contact, so victims have the confidence to come forward, which is why embedding expertise and victim advocacy at the earliest opportunity is key.

“Raneem’s law ensures officers and staff have the necessary awareness, knowledge and confidence to allow them to use their own professional curiosity when dealing with a call or incidents of domestic abuse. If required, specialists can help assess risk and identify safeguarding opportunities as well as offer advice to responding officers.

“We want victims to know they will be heard, taken seriously, and treated with consistency, support and compassion. Protecting victims is not just a policing responsibility - it’s a shared responsibility between services, communities, and individuals to speak up and act and we are grateful for the expertise that Stop Domestic Abuse contributes by working with us to improve our response to domestic abuse.

“We hope Raneem’s Law will ensure a more co-ordinated approach and encourage victims to come forward, feeling confident they will be listened to and taken seriously.”

Rachel Windebank, Deputy CEO at Stop Domestic Abuse added: “At Stop Domestic Abuse, we know how crucial those first moments of contact are for someone reaching out in fear.

“Embedding our domestic abuse specialists into the police control room will strengthen that frontline response and help ensure victims are met with understanding, urgency and care.

“This partnership represents a meaningful step toward safer outcomes for victims and their families, and we are proud to be working with the Police and Crime Commissioner and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary on this important pilot for Raneem’s Law”

Under the plans, domestic abuse specialists are due to be deployed across every police force in England and Wales by 2029.

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