Funding decision over abuse role

THE FUTURE of a specialist officer to support children traumatised by domestic abuse could be in doubt.

Currently the post for Hinckley and Bosworth is paid for thanks to locality funding from the office of the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner.

The council will seek to apply for the £23,000 again for 2017/18 but there is no guarantee, particularly given the force’s budget constraints, the request will be approved.

If the money is not forthcoming the council could fund the role itself from central budgets.

Scrutiny commission committee members endorsed the extra spend, recommending it be built into future budgets.

But decision will need to be ratified by full council before being given the go-ahead.

Councillors were told if neither the police or the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council stumped up the cash the post and service would disappear entirely.

This would leave vulnerable young people who have suffered abuse, or are at risk of abuse, with no local support, members of the scrutiny committee heard.

Some 52 young people had already taken up the service in the six months from April 2016 with a further 19 on a waiting list.

The committee was told: “Children and young people often blame themselves for situations they may find themselves in and often feel powerless and helpless in trying to change some situations which are out of their control. This service gives the young person a voice and advocates for them.”