MP welcomes news that vital school service in Cumbria is saved

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today welcomed the news that a service in Cumbria which alerts schools if an incident of domestic violence has taken place at the home of one of their pupils has been saved.

The scheme sees specially trained staff at the charity Operation Encompass collate reports of domestic incidents dealt with by the police within the last 24 hours. Each school which a child involved attends is then contacted on a confidential basis.

The service was set to be axed following budgets cuts, prompting Tim to write to Cumbria Police and the social services department to ask them to reconsider the decision.

But in a letter today from Cumbria Constabulary, it was announced that the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and the education department of the County Council have agreed to jointly fund the programme for another 12 months.

Tim said: "The head teachers that I've spoken to believe this crucial service is an incredible asset and would hate to see it lost.

"So, I'm delighted that it will no longer be scrapped, and teachers will continue to be able to give support to children who have had to endure such awful experiences at home."