A MULTI Agency Referral Unit which deals with domestic, child and adult abuse victims has dealt with more than 4,000 cases since its launch.

Detective Superintendent Simon Megicks said: “The MARU was established to cut bureaucracy and be more efficient with our resources, while improving the service for vulnerable people.”

The unit is made up of representatives from the police, councils and organisations such as health services and the Probation Service and is said to have helped teams “work together to problem solve where the issues within families are complex”.

DS Megicks added: “There can be cases which will need the expertise of all parts of the MARU, for example a vulnerable adult who is a parent and also in an abusive relationship. We seek to find the most appropriate response to the needs.

“By working together in one location we can share information, specialist skills and provide a much more integrated service in protecting the abused and vulnerable.”

Councillor Mac McGuire, Cambridgeshire County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, said: “By co-locating these services it will enable all the agencies involved to share their experience and expertise, offer a better and more responsive service to protect the public of all age ranges.

“As well as making the best use of the resources available to us to ensure we meet the needs of the Cambridgeshire community.”