British win in global policing awards for Operational Encompass
Devon and Cornwall Police were overall winners of this year’s World Class Policing Awards for Operation Encompass which supports child victims of domestic abuse.
Through the scheme, the force can alert the youngster’s school before the child arrives the following day to ensure they get any care and support they need after witnessing domestic abuse.
More than 46,500 children have been helped by the project since its launch in 2011, according to the constabulary. The driving force behind its establishment was former Plymouth officer David Carney-Haworth and his wife, Elisabeth, a nursery and infant school headteacher.
Devon and Cornwall Police beat competition from 54 finalists, drawn from more than 100 entries across the globe, to claim the top prize.
Operation Encompass is now widespread across the UK and has spread to the Netherlands, US and Australia.
The award means the scheme will now be elevated to an even stronger international platform because police from across the world attended the event, Elisabeth Carney-Haworth was reported as saying by the Plymouth Live news portal. Meanwhile, Operation Encompass continues to grow. West Mercia Police this month introduced it to Shropshire.