Child protection scheme now law

BILL IS PASSED WITH MOMENTS TO SPARE

- CARL EVE

A SCHEME created in Devonport by a police officers and a headteacher and hailed in the House of Lords as helping to ensure the most vulnerable children can be "safeguarded from the harms of domestic abuse" has become law.

There were fears the Victims and Prisoners Bill, approved by the Lords last month, would fall at the last hurdle after the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a General Election. The move meant a number of bills that were progressing through the Commons and Lords either had to be quickly completed and agreed or would fall by the wayside.

However, the Bill - which included an amendment to make the Operation Encompass scheme a statutory act which all police forces must carry out - was passed with just moments to spare. It finally gained Royal Assent on Friday, May 24.