“Preventing harm, abuse or neglect must be and remain at the heart of policing across our community”
That is the message from Simon Hayes, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Cases 1997 to 2013
He was speaking at the Local Safeguarding Children Boards conference held on the Isle of Wight when it was announced that, in light of the child sex abuse scandal in Rotherham, an in-depth police review would take place of all child abuse cases between 1997 to 2013 across the Island and Hampshire.
It’s thought the investigations are likely to take several months due to the significant amount of work involved.
Mr Hayes said:
“Protecting children and the most vulnerable members of our society goes to the heart of policing responsibilities. Because of this I’ve requested the Chief Constable to undertake an in-depth review into the historic situation across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight from 1997 to 2013. This will involve Children’s Social Services Departments from the four top tier Councils in the Constabulary area: Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.
“I’m pleased that all four Local Safeguarding Children Boards across our area will have oversight and involvement in this work.”
Pilot on the Isle of Wight
A ‘Safeguarding Training’ pilot project for neighbourhood police officers will be running on the Isle of Wight.
It provides support for offender’s families that compliment the Barnardo’s campaign already running on the Island.
A spokesperson for Mr Hayes’ office added,
“Efforts will also be made to educate young people themselves and to raise their awareness of key areas that affect and impact on safeguarding.”
Image: chrisbrenschmidt under CC BY 2.0
