The report provided feedback from a visit to Merseyside Police on Thursday 25^th April 2018.

Members had met three teams:

·  The Protecting Vulnerable People Unit (PVPU) domestic abuse team at Birkenhead Police Station and they had met with the Detective Inspector on duty. The Unit also investigated harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Forced Marriage, honour based abuse and stalking.

·  The team known as ‘Compass’ which consisted of officers from Children’s Services, Merseyside Police and Catch 22 and investigated all allegations of Child Sexual and Criminal Exploitation in Wirral. Members met the team at the Solar Campus in Wallasey, where they were based. The nature of the work was complex and often problematic due to some victim’s reluctance to engage with services, however the location of the team within Children’s services allowed for effective information sharing.

·  A team of Police Community Support Officers and Local Authority staff who identified and supported vulnerable people who had either been victims of crime or high demand generators in terms of needing agency support. The team developed plans to reduce individuals’ vulnerabilities and could refer them to third sector organizations or worked alongside them coaching them to overcome their challenges.

It was noted that there were a number of factual errors in the report and an amended would be circulated to members.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.