A specialist domestic abuse adviser is to be placed inside Dyfed-Powys Police’s communications centre as part of an initiative aimed at improving support for victims from the first call for help.

The force is one of 12 across England and Wales introducing the second phase of Raneem’s Law, which is funded by the Home Office and begins in August.

The scheme was created in memory of Raneem Oudeh and her mother, Khaola Saleem, who were murdered in 2018 after repeated calls to police. It aims to place domestic abuse specialists within police control rooms to help identify risks sooner and improve safeguarding.

Under the new arrangement, an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) will work alongside staff in the Force Communication Centre (FCC), providing specialist advice when domestic abuse incidents are reported.

The role is being delivered through a partnership between Dyfed-Powys Police, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and Calan Domestic Violence Services (Calan DVS), which will provide a full-time adviser.

Calan DVS has supported victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence for more than 70 years. Its IDVAs provide advocacy, safety planning, emotional support and practical guidance to people at the highest risk of harm.

The adviser will help police staff assess the level of risk in reported incidents and consider appropriate safeguarding measures.

The new service will operate alongside Dyfed-Powys Police’s Domestic Abuse Virtual Response Unit (DAVRU), which allows victims of non-urgent domestic abuse incidents to speak with an officer through a video call.

Detective Inspector Katie Cuthbertson, from Dyfed-Powys Police’s Vulnerability Hub, said the new role would strengthen the force’s response.

“The first interaction someone has with us after experiencing domestic abuse can be one of the most important, both practically and emotionally,” she said.

“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.”

She added: “This partnership with Calan DVS is an important addition to the work already taking place across Dyfed-Powys Police to improve our response to victims of domestic abuse.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn welcomed the Home Office funding, saying: “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 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.”