Boost for Met’s faith community scheme

A key project to tackle child abuse in London’s faith communities is set for a major expansion.

The community partnership officer scheme, which was piloted in Hackney and Newham, east London, by the Metropolitan police last year as part of the force’s Project Violet, will be rolled out to cover eight boroughs in the capital.

The non-police posts will now be established in Brent, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Newham and Southwark.

The Community Partnership Project is funded for 12 months and is due to begin in the spring. It will be managed by the eight boroughs and co-ordinated through the London Child Protection Committee.

Detective superintendent Chris Bourlet, head of Project Violet, said the Met would like to have community partnership officers in every London borough in the long term.

The news came as the Met arrested an African pastor on suspicion of inciting child cruelty.