It has been quite a year for Operation Encompass. The scheme, supported by NAHT, sees police and schools working together to support children experiencing domestic abuse. 

In less than 12 months the charity has received a royal visit, the creators have both received OBEs, and to top it off Operation Encompass has been named overall winner in the inaugural World Class Policing Awards. 

Award nominations came from across the world, with finalists from countries including Dubai, New Zealand and Australia. Against strong competition, Operation Encompass was the clear winner of the overall award, with the international judging panel commenting how impressed but also deeply moved they were by what has been achieved through the scheme.

They said: "This deals with a perennial issue that happens behind closed doors, affects generations and has a pernicious effect on society. As a charity, police and education collaboration, it's exceptional, and, most importantly, it has been sustained. It has now had almost complete UK saturation and has spread to other countries."

Co-creator of Operation Encompass, head teacher Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE, commented: "This award is a true endorsement of the power of simplicity and partnership-working to support some of the most vulnerable in our society. It will hopefully assist us in spreading Operation Encompass even further afield. Wherever there is domestic abuse, wherever there are children, then there should be Operation Encompass: in every force, in every school, for every child."

Find out more about Operation Encompass in schools.

First published 25 November 2019