Child protection project expanded across Plymouth

A SCHEME to protect children who have witnessed or suffered domestic violence was to be rolled out across the city today.

Operation Encompass, the brainchild of Sgt David Carney-Haworth of Devonport police, was piloted last February at 14 schools in Devonport and was considered such a success it will be taken up by 120 schools through Plymouth in a rolling programme over the next few weeks.

The scheme has received praise by senior police officers, the council’s head of Social Services and the city’s MPs as well as junior Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone after a contingency from Plymouth went to Parliament to highlight the work.

Operation Encompass sees schools called by police if officers were called to a pupil’s home where domestic abuse occurred the night before.

The pilot was considered such a success that last July the Children and Young Person’s Trust (CYPT) agreed to fund its extension from the 14 schools to the whole city.

Last November 17 educational psychologists were given specialist training from former teacher turned educational psychologist Abigail Sterne and domestic abuse therapist Catherine Lawler. Together they helped author ‘Domestic Violence and Children’, a respected handbook for schools and nurseries.

As from today and throughout January and February each school will have a “key adult” trained by the educational psychologists in how to manage the information from police and support the child.

Sgt Carney-Haworth: “The start of the roll out across Plymouth is a major milestone for Operation Encompass.

“You cannot put a value on the safeguarding of a child. It’s a low cost, simple solution which will go a long way towards supporting the most vulnerable members of our society.

“There’s nothing else like this anywhere else in the country, although those involved in Operation Encompass strongly feel there should be.

“The schools are keen for this to work for them because the implications are far reaching. They can quickly put in place the necessary support to help children who have suffered the effects or witnessed domestic violence.

“It’s been humbling to have so many professionals become involved and wholeheartedly support something which helps the city’s children.

“If we can make a positive difference to the lives of children suffering the effects of domestic violence then we’ll have an enormous impact, not just immediately but also, hopefully, for the long term.”

Sgt Carney-Haworth also revealed he was to meet with Devon and Cornwall police’s top cop, Chief Constable Stephen Otter, later this week for a one-to-one briefing about Operation Encompass.

He said: “I intend to tell him about the scheme and what we’re now doing across Plymouth.

“I want to show that despite the current economic climate across the country, the police and its partners in Plymouth are trying to do their very best for the community.”