Raneem’s Law: Dyfed-Powys Police set to strengthen domestic abuse response with new Home Office funding
Dyfed-Powys Police is one of twelve police forces introducing enhanced support for victims of domestic abuse with the second phase rollout of “Raneem’s Law”, funded by the Home Office.
Starting this August, the new measure will see a specialist Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) embedded within the Force Communication Centre (FCC) to strengthen the police response to domestic abuse victims from the first point of contact.
Raneem’s Law was established in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem, who were murdered in 2018 after repeated calls to police for help. The Home Office initiative aims to embed domestic abuse specialists within police control rooms across England and Wales, helping forces identify risk earlier and improve safeguarding for victims.
The initiative is supported by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Dyfed-Powys, who hold the Home Office grant, and Calan Domestic Violence Services (Calan DVS), who will provide a full-time IDVA for the role.
For more than 70 years, Calan DVS has provided specialist support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence across South, Mid and West Wales. Their IDVAs work with those at the highest risk of harm, providing independent advocacy, safety planning, emotional support and practical guidance while helping victims navigate the criminal justice system and access the services they need.
As part of Raneem’s Law, the IDVA will work alongside FCC staff to provide expert advice on domestic abuse incidents reported to the police, helping to identify high-risk cases and ensure sufficient safeguarding measures are considered at the earliest opportunity.
This latest initiative will operate alongside the force’s Domestic Abuse Virtual Response Unit (DAVRU) which offers victims of non-urgent domestic incidents the opportunity to speak with a police officer through a video call.
Together, the introduction of the IDVA into the communication centre and the continued use of the video-calling service will ensure a more specialised service for victims of domestic abuse across all risk levels.
Detective Inspector Katie Cuthbertson of Dyfed-Powys Police’s Vulnerability Hub said:
“The introduction of this specialist role reinforces our commitment to providing a compassionate response to victims of domestic abuse, while continuing the relentless pursuit of those responsible for causing harm.
"The first interaction someone has with us after experiencing domestic abuse can be one of the most important, both practically and emotionally. Having a specialist IDVA embedded within our Force Communication Centre will strengthen our ability to assess risk and provide the right safeguarding at the earliest opportunity.
"This partnership with Calan DVS is an important addition to the work already taking place across Dyfed-Powys Police to improving our response to victims of domestic abuse. I hope that this new measure will give victims greater confidence and reassurance in reporting domestic abuse to us.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn welcomed the funding, saying:
"This investment represents an important opportunity for partners across the Dyfed-Powys area to further strengthen the support available to victims of domestic abuse. By bringing together the expertise of Dyfed-Powys Police and Calan DVS, we can help ensure that those reaching out for help receive an informed, timely and effective response from the very first point of contact."
A spokesperson for Calan DVS said:
“Calan DVS is proud to be working with Dyfed-Powys Police to deliver Raneem's Law, an important initiative that strengthens the response to domestic abuse by embedding specialist Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) expertise within the Force Control Room. This approach will help identify high-risk victims earlier, improve safeguarding and ensure that people receive specialist support from the very first contact with the police.
“Raneem's Law is a positive step towards improving outcomes for victims. By bringing together policing and specialist domestic abuse expertise, we have an opportunity to strengthen victim engagement, enhance risk assessment and ultimately help protect more victims and their children from future harm.”