An Inquest into the deaths of Khaola Saleem and her daughter, Raneem Oudeh, has today concluded with a verdict of unlawful killing and long narrative verdicts setting out multiple ways in which police failures into escalating domestic abuse materially contributed to the deaths of both women.
On 27 August 2018, Khaola Saleem and her daughter Raneem Oudeh (22) were both stabbed to death by Raneem’s ex-partner outside Khaola’s home in Solihull, Birmingham. The perpetrator later pleaded guilty to their murders.
An inquest before HM Coroner Louise Hunt, at Birmingham coroner’s court examined events in the five months prior to their deaths, including the role of West Midlands police, social services and probation in investigating the domestic abuse by the perpetrator and safeguarding Raneem, and thereby her mother, from risk.
The jury has provided a detailed narrative verdict commenting on the inadequacy of police response to multiple repeated incidents of domestic abuse reported by Raneem, paramedics, and neighbours which led to failures to provide protection to her, failures to record or investigate any crimes, failures to arrest and failures to safeguard. A catastrophic failure to respond to 999 calls on the night of the murder and downgrading of risk also materially contributed to the deaths.
In their concluding narrative, the jury found that there were failures in training and understanding of West Midlands police domestic abuse policy and failures to understand the nature of domestic abuse and a victim’s response to it. They concluded that the numerous failures to respond to incidents between April and August 2018 materially contributed to the deaths of both women. They also concluded that failures to respond to repeat 999 calls on the night of 26 and 27 August 2018, materially contributed to the murders.
Nour Norris, sister of Khaola and aunt of Raneem said,
“The inquest has revealed the full horror of police failings, but there is so much more yet to achieve; we need changes to prevent future deaths through domestic abuse. We need a cultural change at all levels of policing. We ask for no more failure, no more dismissal of victims of domestic abuse. The legacy of Raneem and Khaola must be to ensure that other victims get the respect, support, investigation and safeguarding that our loved ones did not get”
The family were represented by Sarah Kellas, solicitor, Birnberg Peirce Ltd and Brenda Campbell KC and Alia Akram of Garden Court Chambers and supported by Centre for Women’s Justice, Southall Black Sisters, Inquest and Roshni, Birmingham.
A full copy of the 15-page jury narrative can be applied for from the Birmingham coroner.
Briefing and quotes from family, legal team and supporting organisations
The evidence heard at the inquest revealed horrifying failures by West Midlands Police to follow their own basic policies and guidance when dealing with repeated reports of domestic abuse including failures to identify or investigate criminal offences towards Raneem Oudeh (22) from her former partner. The failures were apparent at every level of policing, across 8 incidents over a 5-month period. In summary these include:
Repeated failures to include key details of central importance (which goes to risk) on police systems.
Repeated failures for each incident (starting from 2 April 2018) to a) comply with the Domestic Abuse policy, b) complete risk assessment forms properly, c) investigate serious offences which had been disclosed, including threats to kill, controlling and coercive behaviour, harassment, stalking, burglary, theft, and assault and d) to identify and explore relevant previous incidents.
A failure to recognise that Raneem’s case should have been graded as high risk from April 2018.
Repeated failures to document Raneem’s complaints in police notebooks or on body worn footage, save for two occasions when Raneem was invited (contrary to training) to sign a so called ‘statement of non-complaint’.
Failure at any point before the murders to arrest the perpetrator for the offences he was repeatedly committing, empowering him to act with impunity.
Repeated failures to notify supervising sergeants of further incidents of domestic abuse, notwithstanding that Raneem was a ‘Repeat Victim’ of domestic abuse.
Repeated failures on each police attendance (from 2 April 2018) to take protective or safeguarding action for Raneem.
Multiple missed opportunities to adequately assess the risk posed to Raneem from the perpetrator and associated failures to take steps to protect Raneem using powers available.
Leaving Raneem to seek a non-molestation order alone and unsupported, notwithstanding that this was a ‘trigger event’ that greatly increased her risk.
Nour Norris, sister of Khaola and aunt of Raneem says:
“It has been extremely hard to listen to recordings of 999 calls made highlighting the extreme violence and coercive and controlling behaviour that Raneem was subjected to and then to hear how the police failed to take any action to protect her again and again. Their multiple failures emboldened her abuser because he knew he could get away with anything. To hear my sister and niece begging for help on the night of their murder and the police doing nothing is a memory none of us wish to live with. The police failures are beyond comprehension.
On behalf of my family, I would like to give our sincere appreciation to the people who worked very hard for the last four years to help us expose the truth of the failings. Also, many thanks to the Jury who went through the evidence for three weeks, at the time it was like watching a horror movie. And to the Coroner and her staff, who were very supportive.
We have revealed the truth, but there is so much more yet to achieve; we need changes to prevent future deaths through domestic abuse. We need a cultural change at all levels of policing. We ask for no more failure, no more dismissal of victims of domestic abuse. The legacy of Raneem and Khoala must be to ensure that other victims get the respect, support, investigation and safeguarding that our loved ones did not get.
Khoala and Raneem, We miss you beyond imagination, I know we can't bring you back but may your souls now rest in peace”
Kinaan Saleem, daughter of Khaola, and sister of Raneem said:
“I am shocked and horrified by the evidence I have heard over the past three weeks. Listening to my sister’s many 999 calls when she was trying to reach out for help from the police, when she was desperate and scared, and then to not receive the protection she needed was devastating. The failure of the police to take any action against my sister’s abuser, meant that he had the chance and power to continue his campaign of terror against her and extend it to my mother. I have heard first hand evidence from police officers that they did not do their job properly, that they could and should have done more. By the final 999 call my sister had lost hope that the police were going to help at all. She was right. My sister represents all women who have fallen victim to domestic abuse. Victims do not suffer alone; their families suffer too. My mum died protecting her daughter, a job the police failed to do. My family continues to grieve but it is my hope that this horrendous case will give power the many other voices that need to be heard .”
The family’s legal representatives said:
“The evidence exposed in the course of these inquests has been deeply shocking. Despite Raneem’s desperate calls for help over a five-month period, at every level of policing, she was failed. From the very first call, Raneem revealed high risk domestic abuse, threats to kill and coercive control at the hands of the perpetrator. The calls that followed, from Raneem, from hospital staff and from a neighbour, revealed an escalating pattern of abuse that ought to have been met with immediate arrest, investigation and safeguarding. Instead, at every level of police contact, Raneem was dismissed, and her concerns were minimized. The failures of contact handlers, of first response officers, of supervising sergeants and of the Public Protection Unit all contributed to Raneem’s death and the death of her mother Khaola. Each failure represents a missed opportunity to save their lives.
This inquest has revealed a deeply entrenched culture within West Midlands Police of indifference to domestic abuse. That culture empowers perpetrators to act with impunity while leaving victims, like Raneem, to fend for themselves. There is little reason to be confident that that failings have been addressed and the culture rooted out. The lives of those suffering domestic abuse will continue to be at risk through police failings until lessons have been learned and incorporated into policing at all levels.
The verdicts achieved in these inquests represent the first step towards holding accountable the institutions and individuals whose role it was to protect Raneem and Khaola. We now call upon the IOPC to reopen its investigation and to fully explore the failings of individual officers. We call upon West Midlands Police to prove their commitment to protecting victims of domestic abuse through meaningful institutional change. We call upon the Home Secretary and the Government to meet with the family in order to fully understand the urgent need to address violence against women and girls in all sections of society.”
Harriet Wistrich, director, Centre for Women’s Justice said,
“The police failings in this case are absolutely terrifying. The evidence heard demonstrated a failure by police officers to understand the dynamics of domestic abuse and honour-based violence and a wholesale failure to implement any laws, policies of protective powers they have which could have prevented these two deaths and the devastation caused to the wider family. West Midlands Police must be held accountable. The important findings and wide-reaching narrative verdict provided by the jury arises because this is an Article 2 ECHR inquest. If the government’s Bill of Rights passes into law, the extent to which such state failings can be scrutinised, and police held to account will be in jeopardy.”
Hannana Siddiqui, Southall Black Sisters said
“Failures in the police recording and review systems, and insufficient training in the police force caused Raneem and Khaola's deaths. Each 999 call was treated as an isolated incident rather than a pattern of escalating violence. However, a dismissive attitude by some officers betrays a deeper cultural failure to take domestic and honour-based abuse seriously. Social services and probation also took insufficient action to safeguard Raneem. These failures are both shocking and infuriating. They come after many other deaths of women with similar state failures. We call for a public inquiry on femicide.”
Dr Surwat Sohail, Chief Executive, Roshni Birminghams aid
“The inquest has clearly highlighted many failures by the police and social services to protect Raneem Oudeh and Khaola Saleem. How many innocent lives will it take for us to realise that we need to take urgent action. From recording to attitudes displayed by front line officers, these were all contributing factors leading to the two deaths. We strongly urge the police and social services to take immediate action to review their systems, processes and training to ensure that we protect those at risk of honour-based abuse”
Selen Cavcav, INQUEST said
“If it wasn’t for this inquest and the absolute determination of the family to speak out, the horrifying failures by the West Midlands police would have never been revealed. It is beggars belief that in 2022, we are still examining police’s response to violence against women especially women from minoritized communities. What happened to Raneem and Khaola is unforgivable. Accepting wrong doing and saying lessons will be learnt is simply not enough. There needs to be proper commitment to overhaul the way any complaint about domestic abuse is dealt with. As a starting point every single police officer on the ground needs to receive urgent domestic violence training, not just in West Midlands but all across the country as the failures are systemic.”