As an MP and survivor of abuse, I know the difference Raneem’s Law will make
Violence against women and girls is a crisis in this country, and this government has pledged to halve these vile crimes in the next decade.
I say this not just as an MP or a Minister, but as a survivor who knows how abuse can shape and scar a life.
Because the sad truth is, everyday violence and fear shape the lives of women and girls throughout our country.
This is something I see both in my role in government and in Parliament.
I sit with victims, I listen to the stories, and I see how the same failures happen time and time again.
Because the scale of abuse is shocking.
Last year, one in eight women experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking.
Around 3.8 million people were affected by domestic abuse alone.
And every day, police record around 200 rapes, while many more go unreported.
The truth is, no society that tolerates this level of violence can claim to be safe for women and girls.
This Is Not Right
On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.
With the help of our partners at Women's Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.
You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at vaw@metro.co.uk.
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And there are few stories which expose that truth more starkly than that of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem.
On the night they were killed, Raneem called 999 four times asking for help, in fear for her safety. In the months before, thirteen other reports were made to the police about concerns for Raneem’s safety.
Raneem did what we tell all victims to do.
She reported her abuser. She called for help. She kept reaching out.
And still, she was murdered.
That is more than a failure. That is a moral aberration.
But it is in the memory of Raneem and Khaola that we must continue this fight.
And I pay tribute to Raneem’s aunt, Nour Norris, whose tireless campaigning and determination helped launch the pioneering Raneem’s Law.
Through Raneem’s Law we have placed domestic abuse specialists inside the first five 999 control rooms.
The specialists oversee how calls are assessed and managed, and provide real‑time expert advice to call handlers and responding officers.
They also review cases and risk assessments, support staff training, and ensure victims are swiftly referred to specialist services at their moment of greatest need.
The initial pilot placed specialists in West Midlands, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Humberside and Northumbria and, according to early police reports, has led to stronger engagement with victims; high‑risk cases being identified quicker; and faster, better‑informed action being taken to protect women.
Today, I’m proud to announce Phase Two of Raneem’s Law, which will place specialists in 12 more 999 control rooms across England and Wales, trebling the number of sites where the initiative is live.
Because every victim – no matter where they live – should be able to rely on a system built to protect them.
Which is why, as part of the Prime Minister’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, we will roll out Raneem’s Law across all police forces in England and Wales by 2029.
Because this work matters.
Not just because of the laws we pass or the actions we take. But because of what it says about who we are as a country and whose safety we choose to prioritise.
And we will continue to go further.
At the end of last year, the Prime Minister launched his VAWG Strategy – with over 200 pledges to stop violence before it starts, relentlessly pursue perpetrators and better support victims and survivors.
We will deploy the full power of the state to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. This is the measure that we will be judged against.
That’s why Metro’s This Is Not Right campaign continues to play such a vital role in shining a light on the scale of violence against women and girls in this country.
Because for too long, we’ve said ‘enough is enough’ and continued as we were.
We owe it to Raneem, to Khaola, and to every victim of abuse whose life has been cut short.
We cannot afford to fail.
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