'Memory of my murdered niece and sister to live on in new domestic abuse law'

Reneem's Law, in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were murdered after police failed to act despite repeated warnings, will give better protection to victims

Police have been ordered to improve the way they deal with domestic abuse following the murder of a woman and her mum after warnings were ignored.

Labour has announced it will implement Raneem’s Law in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem, who were killed after a string of shocking failures. They were killed by Raneem's violent ex-husband despite police previously receiving 13 reports of concerns for her safety.

The 22-year-old had reported threats to kill, violence and stalking by her estranged husband, Janbaz Tarin, but police failed to investigate in the weeks before the murders. On the night she was killed in Solihull in 2018, Raneem rang 999 four times fearing for her life. An inquest found failures by West Midlands Police "materially contributed" to the fatal stabbings.

Under new regulations domestic abuse specialists will be embedded in every 999 control room. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has also said new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders will give authorities and charities greater powers to force vile perpetrators to stay away.

Those who disobey could face up to five years behind bars. Nour Norris, Raneem's aunt and Khaola's sister, welcomed the long-awaited new measures. She said: "Six years ago, when I lost my niece Raneem and sister Khaola, my world fell apart. Their suffering and the way the system failed them is something I will never forget."

Nour has campaigned relentlessly to change the law, and she said it will help save lives by making sure warning signs aren't ignored. She praised the Government for acting and added: “Knowing that Raneem’s name will now be a source of hope and protection for others fills me with a sense of pride I cannot put into words. Raneem’s memory lives on in this law, and it means the world to me to know that her story will help save lives”.

Last year police forces received nearly 100 reports of domestic abuse every single hour on average. Specialists with expertise in domestic abuse will give officers on the ground support to make sure victims get a faster response. New technology such as Rapid Video Response will also be used to improve the way police respond.

On top of that, new orders will require abusers to inform perpetrators of crimes including violence, stalking and controlling behaviour, to stay away from victims indefinitely. They will also have to inform police if they change address, and they will also face having to wear an electronic tag and undergo assessments.

At the moment orders can only be in place for 28 days. It comes after Labour vowed to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Failure to understand the seriousness of domestic abuse costs lives and far too many have already been lost. That’s why introducing ‘Raneem’s Law’ in memory of Raneem and her mother Khaola is so vital – and has been a personal priority for me."

She said victims need to know their ordeal will be "treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves". A new Safer Streets Mission Board will work across Government departments to tackle gender-based violence.

Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women & Girls, said: “For too long, we know victims haven’t had the protection they deserve." She said the new measures are "huge steps towards the best response for victims possible".

The new laws will be piloted in early 2025. Domestic Abuse Commissioner Nicole Jacobs said: "It is estimated that the police receive a call about domestic abuse every 30 seconds. Emergency call handlers must be equipped to respond with the understanding and urgency that is needed to keep victims safe."