Home secretary visits domestic abuse centre

PIONEERING SUPPORT FACILITY VITAL, SAYS COOPER

- By SAM VOLPE

THE Home Secretary visited Northumbria Police call handlers on Monday to see a pioneering project supporting survivors of domestic abuse.

Yvette Cooper made the visit to see how the force is enacting “Raneem’s Law” which brings independent domestic abuse experts into the call centres to help staff respond appropriately.

The scheme has been operational for six months at Northumbria Police, and in that time the specialists have supported more than 50 calls a month.

The idea is driven by the need to prevent the situation which saw West Midlands-native Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem murdered by Raneem's ex-husband, despite a number of calls to the local police beforehand.

The Northumbria force is now one of five to have begun the Raneem’s Law project thus far.

Meeting staff and officers at the force’s communications headquarters in Ponteland, the Home Secretary said the work was vital.