Operation Encompass at HPS

Operation Encompass is a police and education early safeguarding partnership that shares information about police-attended domestic abuse incidents with schools to provide immediate support to children who have been affected. When police attend a domestic abuse call involving children, they notify the designated safeguarding lead at the child's school, allowing the child to receive timely support the next day. The program operates across all police forces in the UK and includes statutory provisions in England and Wales, ensuring consistent application and safeguarding for vulnerable children.
 

How it Works

• Police Referral:

  When a police officer attends a domestic abuse incident and children are present or affected, they send a confidential notification to the child's school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) before the next school day begins. 

• School Response:

  The school's Key Adult (DSL) receives this information and can then provide the child with appropriate, timely support. 

• Training for Staff:

  The initiative also provides free online training to school staff on how to identify and support children who have experienced domestic abuse. 

Purpose and Impact

• Early Intervention:

  The goal is to intervene early to reduce the long-term impact of domestic abuse on children. 

• Timely Support:

  By equipping schools with information, children can receive the immediate help and emotional support they need without having to disclose their situation themselves. 

• Statutory Obligation:

  The scheme was placed into law in England and Wales through the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024, making the sharing of this information a statutory obligation for police forces.