A domestic abuse survivor and charity founder has underscored the critical importance of police taking 999 abuse calls seriously, stating that the expansion of Raneem's Law could be a pivotal step in saving lives. Linda Huskisson, from Peterborough, an abuse survivor herself and founder of Living Keys, a charity supporting victims across the city and Fenland, welcomed the scheme's recent rollout within Cambridgeshire Police.
Raneem's Law is named in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem, who were tragically murdered in 2018 despite Raneem having made multiple 999 calls to the police that went unanswered. The law was introduced to enhance police response to domestic abuse by integrating specialist advisers into control rooms, designed to offer quicker protection to victims. Cambridgeshire Police is among 12 forces participating in the expansion of this pilot scheme, increasing the total number of forces involved to 17.
Under the initiative, four Domestic Abuse Proactive Support Specialists (DAPSS) will operate within the control room at Cambridgeshire Police. Their role is to provide immediate support to victims and offer expert advice to officers responding to incidents. The force hopes that this integration will significantly reduce missed opportunities to safeguard vulnerable individuals, ensuring a more consistent and effective response to domestic abuse reports.
Ms Huskisson, who established Living Keys in 2021 and has since supported nearly 650 women, emphasised that while the scheme's expansion is positive, its success hinges on appropriate training for all 999 call handlers and officers. She stressed the need for every domestic abuse report and emergency call to be taken seriously and acted upon swiftly. Her own experiences of abuse from a young age, and the lack of comprehensive support available at the time, fuel her passion for empowering women to escape similar situations.
Amanda Geraghty, who leads Peterborough Women's Aid, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that many victims have previously faced disbelief, inconsistent responses, or delays in receiving help. She called for Raneem's Law to be complemented by sustained investment in specialist domestic abuse services, ensuring that victims in Peterborough receive essential aftercare. Supt Nick Church from Cambridgeshire Police described the scheme as an 'important step' in the force's ongoing efforts to combat domestic abuse, acknowledging the immense difficulty victims face in coming forward.