A TEAM who work tirelessly to help vulnerable children had a royal visitor yesterday.

The princess royal visited the Gwent Missing Children’s team at their base in Mamhilad, as well as some of the people who have been helped by the service.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, Jeff Cuthbert, was one of the first to greet the royal visitor.

“It is a real honour for us,” he said. “It’s recognition of the excellent and innovative work that this missing children’s hub has done on behalf of children across Gwent.

“It will help the understanding about the work that is done by this unit in partnership with other key agencies.

“They make a positive difference to children who have troubled lives.”

The team is the only service in the UK that brings together police, social workers, health workers, education and third sector representatives to help vulnerable young people.

Since its launch in 2017, the programme has risk assessed more than 2,500 children who have been reported missing to Gwent Police. Since April 2018, the team has supported frontline police and social workers to complete Trafficking Assessments via the National Referral Mechanism on over 20 children.

Deputy chief constable Pam Kelly also met the princess royal and said it wan an honour that she came to visit and hoped it will raise awareness of the service and its work.

The princess royal took a tour of the offices and deputy lord lieutenant Dame Claire Clancy joined the princess as she met people who had been helped by the team.

She said: “Everyone worked so hard and the princess royal was so interested in what the team do. It is such essential work

“It was very well planned and it is an honour.”

Police cadet, 16-year-old Louis Barrett from Newport, was tasked with opening princess Anne’s car door.

He said: “I volunteered to be part of the day and I had a frontline role and it was a heavy door.

“She did acknowledge me and said ‘Thank you very much’.”

Cadet Khayla Jones, 15, from Pontypool added: “It was nerve-racking as the time got closer, but I think it was a good experience for all of us.”

More information about the team and its work can be found on its website at breakingthecycle.org.uk