A SCHEME with its roots in South East Cornwall is to extend support for children at risk of domestic abuse after a launch event attended by TV star Anneka Rice.

Operation Encompass involves Devon and Cornwall Police working with the charity and partners to ensure schools across the two counties are informed promptly of incidents where children have been impacted by domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass means the reporting to schools, before 9am on a school day, when police have attended an incident where a child or young person has been present during or exposed to an environment where there is domestic abuse.

Information is passed by the police to a trained ‘Key Adult’ within the school so care can be provided to support the child.

Devon and Cornwall Police and the charity held a launch event at Pentillie Castle in St Mellion to celebrate the roll-out of Operation Encompass across the force.

Retired Sergeant David Carney-Haworth was the co-creator and founder of Operation Encompass with his wife Elisabeth, Headteacher at Torpoint Nursery and Infant School.

He said: ‘As the creators of Operation Encompass it is rewarding to see our scheme across the whole of Devon and Cornwall Police Force.

‘Today is a wonderful way to mark and recognise this achievement which has come from a commitment straight from the Chief Constable.

‘We can now add Devon and Cornwall to the list of forces supporting Operation Encompass, meaning that parents can rest assured that the child victims of domestic abuse will be recognised and supported in school.

‘This scheme is supported by both Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and Ofsted, and we will continue to lobby to ensure that all forces across the country embrace this scheme.

‘Our hard work in briefing key adults across Cornwall, Devon, Torbay and Plymouth is a small price to pay to ensure that the children and young people exposed to domestic abuse are given the nurture and support that they need, when they need it most: It’s every child’s right.’

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said: ‘Operation Encompass is an important initiative and directly supports our force mission which is to protect the vulnerable.

“This scheme is now running force-wide meaning that some of the most vulnerable children in society are now receiving the extra help and support from police officers and the school they attend, far earlier than ever before.

‘These are children who may have previously suffered in silence at school after being exposed to domestic abuse in their home.

‘Representatives from over 900 schools from across Devon and Cornwall have attended the key adult training, all delivered by David and Elisabeth Carney-Haworth whom I thank personally for their time and commitment in delivering this initiative.’

Anneka Rice, an advocate of the scheme, gave a speech during the launch.