In the House of Commons last week Gerald Jones, MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, expressed his support for Gwent Police with their pioneering work with Operation Compass, during the second reading of the crucial 2019 Domestic Abuse Bill.

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information sharing partnership enabling schools to offer immediate support for children and young people experiencing domestic abuse.

Information is shared by the police with a school’s trained Key Adult (DSL) prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident thus enabling appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

Children experiencing domestic abuse are negatively impacted by this exposure; domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience and can lead to emotional, physical and psychological harm. Operation Encompass aims to mitigate this harm by enabling immediate support.

Along with other police forces across the UK, Gwent Police has played a crucial part in rolling out the scheme, ensuring that councils and schools can help and support children exposed to all kinds of domestic abuse.

Gerald Jones, MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, said:

“Since 2018, Gwent Police have played a considerable role in pioneering Operation Encompass.

 

“I would like to congratulate and thank not only Gwent Police but forces across the country for the important work that they have done in rolling out this vital initiative.”