DOMESTIC violence victims need to be heard the first time they call 999, a campaigner insisted today as a minister described abuse as the “Cinderella” of crimes.
Nour Norris, whose niece Raneem Oudeh, 22, and sister Khaola Saleem, 49, were murdered by Ms Oudeh’s ex-partner in 2018, said that those calling the police for help “need to be given the opportunity to be saved.”
On the night they were killed, Ms Oudeh had called West Midlands Police four times to register concerns for her safety.
The force had previously responded to 10 domestic abuse incidents linked to the case and five officers were disciplined over the failures.
Ms Norris said her sister and niece “tried their best to be here today” but “the system failed.”
She said: “No-one should really have to suffer what Raneem suffered.
“Trying to explain herself, trying to put an administration order in place for herself … trying to do whatever it takes to be heard, and she was still not heard until she lost her life.
“My sister lost her life because she was doing the job of the police — doing the sacrificing for mother and daughter.”
Her comments come as the government introduces “Raneem’s Law” that aims to transform the way the police handle cases of violence against women and girls.
The Home Office has said some police forces will start embedding domestic abuse specialists in their 999 control rooms early next year as part of the plans.
Safeguarding minister Jess Phillips has described domestic abuse as the “Cinderella” of crimes, suggesting it has previously not been prioritised.
Ms Phillips said she wants to do more than give domestic abuse victims “a good call.”
She said the pilot scheme would act as part of an ambition to prevent domestic abuse from happening in the first place.
Abigail Ampofo, interim chief executive of domestic abuse charity Refuge, welcomed the plans but called for more detail on how staff will be safely recruited, vetted and trained.
She added: “We know there are a myriad of issues when it comes to police using their powers to protect survivors and hold perpetrators to account.
“So often survivors tell us that the police don’t act on breaches of these orders, and they are often worth ‘little more than the paper they are written on’.”
