MAPPA

MAPPA REPORT 2010-2011

MAPPA Annual Report 2010-11 cover MAPPA Annual Report 2010-11 (PDF 6.9MB)

Introduction
What is MAPPA?
MAPPA Statistics
Explanation commentary on statistical tables
Warwickshire MAPPA

1. Introduction

Back to top We would like to thank all the partner agencies for their time and commitment to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). In particular we would like to acknowledge the contribution of ACC Bill Holland who chaired the Strategic Management Board (SMB) most effectively prior to his retirement.

Over the year there has been a keen focus on continual improvement. For example, all members of the SMB participated in an audit of MAPPA level 2 and 3 meetings, using a national set of criteria. The feedback has helped to identify areas for continual improvement.

Warwickshire MAPPA also put itself forward to be part of the national joint thematic inspection of MAPPA, led by HMI Probation. The initial feedback was positive regarding the leadership and strategic management of MAPPA. The feedback also highlighted good practice in the involvement of the Criminal Justice Mental Health Liaison Service. We await the national thematic report with interest.

This Annual Report is a review of our achievements during 2010-2011 and we commend it to you.

Liz Stafford,
Chief Executive,
Warwickshire Probation Trust and Chair of the MAPPA Strategic Management Board.

Neil Brunton,
Assistant Chief Constable,
Warwickshire Police and Deputy Chair of the MAPPA Strategic Management Board

2. What is MAPPA?

MAPPA background

(a) MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) are a set of arrangements to manage the risk posed by the most serious sexual and violent offenders (MAPPA-eligible offenders) under the provisions of sections 325 to 327B of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

(b) They bring together the Police, Probation and Prison Services in each of the 42 Areas in England and Wales into what is known as the MAPPA Responsible Authority.

(c) A number of other agencies are under a Duty To Co-operate (DTC) with the Responsible Authority. These include Social Services, Health Trusts, Youth Offending Teams, Jobcentre Plus and Local Housing and Education Authorities.

(d) The Responsible Authority is required to appoint two Lay Advisers to sit on each MAPPA area Strategic Management Board (SMB) alongside senior representatives from each of the Responsible Authority and duty to co-operate agencies.

(e) Lay Advisers are members of the public with no links to the business of managing MAPPA offenders and act as independent, yet informed, observers; able to pose questions which the professionals closely involved in the work might not think of asking. They also bring to the SMB their understanding and perspective of the local community (where they must reside and have strong links).

How MAPPA works

MAPPA-eligible offenders are identified and information about them is shared by the agencies in order to inform the risk assessments and risk management plans of those managing or supervising them.
In the majority of cases that is as far as MAPPA extends but in some cases, it is determined that active multi-agency management is required. In such cases there will be regular MAPPA meetings attended by relevant agency practitioners.

There are 3 categories of MAPPA-eligible offender:
- Category 1 - registered sexual offenders;
- Category 2 – (in the main) violent offenders sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months or more; and
- Category 3 – offenders who do not qualify under categories 1 or 2 but who currently pose a risk of serious harm.
There are three management levels intended to ensure that resources are focused upon the cases where they are most needed; generally those involving the higher risks of serious harm. Level 1 involves ordinary agency management (i.e. no MAPPA meetings or resources); Level 2 is where the active involvement of more than one agency is required to manage the offender but the risk management plans do not require the attendance and commitment of resources at a senior level. Where senior oversight is required the case would be managed at Level 3.

MAPPA is supported by ViSOR. This is a national IT system for the management of people who pose a serious risk of harm to the public. The police have been using ViSOR since 2005 but, since June 2008, ViSOR has been fully operational allowing, for the first time, key staff from the Police, Probation and Prison Services to work on the same IT system, thus improving the quality and timeliness of risk assessments and of interventions to prevent offending.

The combined use of ViSOR increases the ability to share intelligence across organisations and enable the safe transfer of key information when these high risk offenders move, enhancing public protection measures. All MAPPA reports from England and Wales are published online at: www.justice.gov.uk

3. MAPPA Statistics

MAPPA-eligible offenders on 31 March 2011
	Category 1: Registered sex offenders	Category 2: Violent offenders	Category 3: Other dangerous offenders	Total
Level 1	291	98	-	389
Level 2	12	2	0	14
Level 3	1	0	0	1
Total	304	100	0	404

MAPPA-eligible offenders in Levels 2 and 3 by category (yearly total)
	Category 1: Registered sex offenders	Category 2: Violent offenders	Category 3: Other dangerous offenders	Total
Level 2	23	26	0	49
Level 3	3	1	0	4
Total	26	27	0	53

RSOs cautioned or convicted for breach of notification requirements

Restrictive orders for Category 1 offenders
SOPOs, NOs & FTOs imposed by the courts
SOPOs	20
NOs	0
FTOs	0

Level 2 and 3 offenders returned to custody
	Category 1: Registered sex offenders	Category 2: Violent offenders	Category 3: Other dangerous offenders	Total
Breach of licence
Level 2	5	3	0	8
Level 3	0	0	0	0
Total	5	3	0	8
Breach of SOPO
Level 2	0	-	-	0
Level 3	0	-	-	0
Total	0	-	-	0

Total number of Registered Sexual Offenders per 100,000 population

This figure has been calculated using the 2010 Mid-Year Population Estimate published by the Office for National Statistics on 30 June 2011, excluding those aged less than ten years of age.

4. Explanation commentary on statistical tables

MAPPA background

The totals of MAPPA-eligible offenders, broken down by category, reflect the picture on 31 March 2011 (i.e. they are a snapshot). The rest of the data covers the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011.

(a) MAPPA-eligible offenders – there are a number of offenders defined in law as eligible for MAPPA management, because they have committed specified sexual and violent offences or they currently pose a risk of serious harm, although the majority (94% this year) are actually managed under ordinary agency (Level 1) arrangements rather than via MAPP meetings.

(b) Registered Sexual Offenders (RSOs) – those who are required to notify the police of their name, address and other personal details and to notify any changes subsequently (this is known as the “notification requirement.”) Failure to comply with the notification requirement is a criminal offence which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment.

(c) Violent Offenders – this category includes violent offenders sentenced to imprisonment or detention for 12 months or more, or detained under a hospital order. It also includes a small number of sexual offenders who do not qualify for registration and offenders disqualified from working with children.

(d) Other Dangerous Offenders – offenders who do not qualify under the other two MAPPA-eligible categories, but who currently pose a risk of serious harm which requires management via MAPP meetings.

(e) Breach of licence – offenders released into the community following a period of imprisonment of 12 months or more will be subject to a licence with conditions (under probation supervision). If these conditions are not complied with, breach action will be taken and the offender may be recalled to prison.

(f) Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) – a court may make a SOPO at the time of dealing with certain sexual offenders or when the police make a special application on account of the offender’s behaviour in the community. The full order lasts for a minimum of five years, and can last indefinitely. A SOPO will require the subject to register as a sexual offender and can include conditions, for example to prevent the offender loitering near schools or playgrounds. If the offender fails to comply with (i.e. breaches) the requirements of the order, he can be taken back to court and may be liable to up to five years’ imprisonment.

(g) Notification Order – this requires sexual offenders who have been convicted overseas to register with the police, in order to protect the public in the UK from the risks that they pose. The police may apply to the court for a notification order in relation to offenders who are already in the UK or are intending to come to the UK.

(h) Foreign Travel Orders – these prevent offenders with convictions for sexual offences against children from travelling abroad where this is necessary to protect children from the risk of sexual harm.

5. Warwickshire MAPPA

How we operate locally

We share critical information about high-risk offenders so that each agency has the most complete picture they can get in making decisions and managing that person.
We make critical decisions together and bring greater accountability into the process on behalf of the community.
In certain cases we make decisions to inform schools, parents, employers etc, about the risks an offender poses.
We enable special resources to be found for difficult cases, which would not usually be available. For example, specialist risk assessments from outside experts or specialist housing provision that would reduce the offender’s potential opportunity to offend.
Each agency has a range of different legal powers, which can be sought to control or prevent behaviour, including Anti Social Behaviour Orders, Notification Orders, Sexual Offences Prevention Orders, Foreign Travel Orders and Licence Conditions, power to evict, electronic tagging and Curfew Orders. These, when used together, can often help make a package of measures that ensure offenders are managed more safely.

Panels can sometimes offer specific measures to help protect victims, such as accommodating the offender in another area. The panels can also, via the agencies, inform victims of the plans being made for release and rehabilitation of high-risk offenders, and give victims police alarms and reassurance.

How we are managed

The work of the MAPPA is overseen by the Strategic Management Board, this is currently chaired by the Chief Executive of Warwickshire Probation Trust. The vice chair is the Assistant Chief Constable Warwickshire Police. Other members of the Board are from the Prison Service, Health Services, Children’s Services, Adult Services, Youth Justice Service, Local Authority representative, registered Social Landlord representative, Education, Job Centre Plus and 2 Lay Advisors.

The SMB have three sub committees,

Serious Case Review, which only meet when and if there is a serious re-offence case to review. During this period there were no serious case reviews.

Performance and Standards. This undertakes an audit of MAPPA process every year and reviews the actions resulting from earlier audits to ensure any recommendations are brought into practice.

Training, During 2009/10 we have carried out a number of multi agency MAPPA training events, and organised individual agencies to train their own staff on MAPPA as well as participated in organising a Regional training days. All these assist in cementing the united approach the agencies have to protecting the public of Warwickshire.

In addition to the above members of the SMB are also part of the local Safeguarding Children’ Board and its sub committees and sit on the local Community Safety Partnership and the local Criminal Justice Board.