In July 2026, Cleveland Police launched a new initiative to embed domestic abuse specialists directly within their 999 emergency control room to improve safeguarding and risk assessment for victims.
As part of the second phase of the government-backed ‘Raneem’s Law’ pilot, Cleveland Police is one of 12 additional forces nationwide tasked with implementing these enhanced response measures. Specialists from the charity Harbour Support Services are now stationed in the control room to provide real-time guidance to call handlers and police staff during peak-demand periods.
Key details of the service include:
Operational Hours: Specialists are available daily from 5 pm to 1 am, including weekends and bank holidays.
Core Function: Acting as a ‘critical friend,’ they advise on complex risk assessments and help identify immediate safeguarding opportunities during initial 999 calls.
Strategic Goal: The pilot is central to the government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Local Context: VAWG-related offences currently account for approximately 20% of all crimes reported to Cleveland Police, with over 16,000 such incidents recorded between April 2025 and March 2026.
Background on Raneem’s Law
The initiative is named in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem, who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in 2018. Despite Raneem making four separate 999 calls on the night of the attack, police failed to reach them in time. The legislation aims to prevent similar failures by ensuring expert support is available at the very first point of contact.
IMAGE CREDIT – CLEVELAND POLICE
Pictured left to right: Kelly Thomson – Tees Valley IDVA Team Leader, Lesley Gibson – Chief Executive, both from Harbour, PCC Matt Storey and Chief Inspector Helen Bell)
EDITOR NOTE – COLOUR US IMPRESSED, LET’S HOPE THAT OTHER FORCES FOLLOW CLEVELAND POLICE’S LEAD.
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