October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month and we wish to highlight a new law aimed at preventing domestic abuse and the tragic story behind its movement.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS), for the year ending 2023, reported an estimated 2,214,000 victims in England and Wales, yet only 39,198 offenders were convicted. Despite these alarmingly high figures, domestic abuse often remains a hidden crime that goes unreported.
Below, we highlight the tragic case of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, whose deaths have spurred their relatives to advocate for positive change. Their aim is to encourage more victims to come forward and report domestic abuse, improve how these crimes are reported and followed up on by the police, and push for more robust systems to protect those at risk.
Raneems Story
The new law, named “Raneem’s Law”, is dedicated to Raneem Oudeh. In 2018, at the age of 22, she and her mother, Khaola Saleem, were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband. In the months leading up to her murder, Raneem had called 999 a total of 14 times to report incidents of domestic abuse, including threats made to kill her and stab her. These calls were not logged correctly, meaning they were not followed up, and the risk were not properly assessed.
On the night of her murder, Raneem called 999 four times, terrified of her ex-husband Janbaz Tarin. She had left him after discovering he had a second family in Afghanistan, a secret he had kept from her during the first six months of their marriage. Following their separation, Janbaz had threatened Raneem, saying, “If you leave me, I will kill you and your family.” Raneem had moved back in with her mother after several rows with Janbaz, during which the police had been called. He harassed her by sleeping outside her mother’s home for 12 consecutive nights.
On the night she was killed, CCTV footage captured Raneem and her mother arguing with Janbaz at a Shisha lounge in Birmingham. Fearing for her safety, Raneem called 999. Despite having a non-molestation order against Janbaz, no officers were sent in response to her pleas for help. It has since emerged that Raneem made several panicked calls to the police in the hours before her death and was on the phone to officers when she and her mother were fatally stabbed.
An inquest into their deaths found multiple police failures that materially contributed to the tragedy. Raneem’s family believes their deaths could have been prevented and that the system meant to protect victims is clearly failing.
Raneem’s Law
On Friday 20th September 2024, the Home Secretary announced a new set of measures as part of the government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls within a decade. These measures, set to be piloted in 2025, will include embedding domestic abuse specialists within 999 control rooms. These specialists will advise on risk assessments and work closely with officers on the ground, ensuring victims receive fast responses and are referred to appropriate support services as quickly as possible. This change aims to prevent warning signs, like those in Raneem’s case, from being ignored.
Additionally, new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) will come into force in November 2024. Currently, police powers allow for orders that prevent abusers from contacting or approaching victims, but these typically last for only 28 days. The new DAPOs will have no maximum duration, require perpetrators to inform the police of any changes in name or address, and impose electronic tagging. Breaching these orders will be a criminal offense, punishable by up to five years in prison. These orders enhance police powers to protect domestic abuse victims and help prevent further abuse.
In addition to police-issued orders, injunctive orders such as non-molestation orders can also be used. A non-molestation order typically prohibits an abuser from using or threatening physical violence, intimidation, harassment, or communication with the victim.
It is also possible to make an emergency application for a non-molestation order if an incident has occurred recently. If you need assistance with an injunctive order or any other family matter, please contact our family team on 0191 384 2441, and we will be happy to assist.
If you are experiencing domestic violence or are concerned about a friend or family member, please visit Harbour, a North East charity dedicated to supporting those affected by domestic abuse. For support and advice, you can also visit Citizens Advice to learn more about getting help with domestic violence and abuse.
Domestic Abuse in England and Wales overview: November 2023https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwalesoverview/november2023
