Westminster, Holyrood and Stormont have announced a series of measures to tackle domestic abuse and violence.
The English and Welsh government is introducing Raneem’s Law in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother Khaola Saleem who were murdered by Raneem’s ex-husband in Solihull in 2018. On the night she was killed, Raneem rang 999 four times.
From early 2025 the government will fund a pilot project to put domestic abuse specialists in emergency service control rooms to advise on risk assessments and work with officers on the ground. The aim is to ensure victims receive a fast response when needed and are referred to support services as quickly as possible.
Additionally, the Westminster government plan to toughen up protection orders by piloting the new Domestic Abuse Protection Order (DAPO). If successful, the order can impose electronic tagging on perpetrators, ordering assessments for behaviour change programmes, and making it a legal requirement to inform the police of any change in name or address.
More agencies will be able to apply for the DAPO including local authorities, charities and social services. So will victims. There will be no maximum duration for the orders, which cover all forms of domestic abuse including violence, stalking and controlling behaviour, whereas the current maximum for a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) 28 days.
As with the current Non-molestation Order, breaching the DAPO will be a criminal offence, punishable by up to five years in prison. The pilot is expected to last up to two years.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government has introduced the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill. If passed by Parliament, there will be a robust review after any murder, including of children, where abuse is known or suspected. The aim is to reduce the number of domestic homicides and suicides by identifying areas for change and improvement.
In Northern Ireland the government has launched a strategy with the goal of creating a society which does not tolerate domestic or sexual abuse. The seven-year initiative is designed around partnership, prevention, children and young people, support and provision, and justice.
