MAPPA Annual Report 2011-12

MAPPA-eligible offenders are identified and information about them shared by the agencies to inform risk assessment 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 it is determined that active multi-agency management is required. In those cases there will be regular MAPPA meetings attended by relevant agency practitioners.

There are three categories of MAPPA-eligible offender:

Category 1 – registered sexual offenders

Category 2 – mainly violent offenders sentenced to

imprisonment for 12 months or more

Category 3 - offenders who do not qualify under categories one or two but who pose a risk of serious harm.

There are three management levels to ensure resources are focused on 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 – 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

Level 3 – where senior oversight is required

MAPPA is also supported by ViSOR which is a national IT system to help manage people who pose a serious risk of harm to the public.

Police have been using ViSOR since 2005, but from 2008 key staff from Police, Probation and Prison Services are able to use the same IT system, which improves the quality and timeliness of risk assessments and interventions to prevent offending.

It increases the ability to share intelligence across organisations and enable the safe transfer of key information when high risk offenders move.

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

They bring together Police, Probation and Prison Services in each of the 42 areas in England and Wales into what is called the MAPPA Responsible Authority. A number of other agencies have a duty to co-operate with this Authority including social services, health trusts, youth offending teams, Jobcentre Plus, local housing and education authorities.

Two Lay Advisers are appointed by the Responsible Authority to sit on each MAPPA area Strategic Management Board (SMB) alongside senior representatives from agencies. They are members of the public who act as independent, informed observers able to pose questions to professionals. They bring to the SMB their understanding and perspective of the local community.

MAPPA Annual Report 2011-12

In this report... Achievements for the last year

The plan for 2012-13

MAPPA case studies

The statistics

2

2

3

4

7

7

6 Explanation of Statistical Tables

Lay Adviser viewpoint

Victim Support

What is MAPPA?

The Plan for 2012-2013 What the SMB will do in the next 12 months:

MAPPA latest guidance to be implemented

Improve the contribution to MAPPA from prisons

Promote appropriate liaison between safeguarding processes and MAPPA

Ensure ViSOR is used to inform MAPPA best practice

Improve the ownership and embedding of inter-agency support and commitment to MAPPA at a

local level

Exemption from shared accommodation rates is effective for MAPPA level 2 and level 3

Ensure that RANSG (Responsible Authority National Steering Group) plan is reflected in MAPPA

Revised MAPPA key performance indicators (KPIs) are reported nationally

Thematic MAPPA inspection to look at quality of arrangements

Mental health partners fully informed of their responsibilities under MAPPA

Produce a GM MAPPA Annual Report that is succinct and provides appropriate data

Disseminate the national and local MAPPA newsletter

Maintain an effective communication strategy with lay advisers

Participate in the national MAPPA Improvement Group

Ensure MAPPA staff are kept up-to-date with latest developments for managing MAPPA

offenders

Duty to co-operate agency staff have sufficient knowledge to participate effectively

Achievements in the last 12 months The new national MAPPA guidance has been implemented and the details shared with all the relevant

agencies

Extensive training on the role of JobCentre Plus within the arrangements has taken place and each

JobCentre Plus office now has a single point of contact

The UK Borders Agency have attended the SMB as an agency with a duty to co-operate

The Greater Manchester SMB have developed an action plan to ensure the learning from the MAPPA

Thematic Inspection is implemented

Two new SMB lay advisers are in the process of being recruited

MAPPA case studies̶the reality

Mr A has a history of offending dating back to 2000 and the seriousness of his actions has escalated including arson, grievous bodily harm and robbery.

He was registered as a MAPPA level 2 case prior to his release from prison after a conviction for armed robbery.

At the first MAPPA meeting information linked him to organised crime, selling drugs

and using firearms and his risk management was increased to level 3.

He was also at risk of violence from previous criminal associates.

The risk management plan involved substantial multi-agency work including finding Mr A accommodation in Approved Premises, subjecting him to curfew and subjecting him to two exclusion zones.

He had never worked before but in prison he took courses to enhance employment opportunities.

On release he was identified by police and probation officers and was involved in further multi-agency work.

He has attended a drug relapse prevention group and was linked to a housing provider.

Mr A’s search for employment led to a positive outcome.

During 2010 and 2011 a very high risk sex offender was being managed in the community as a MAPPA level three case.

The offender was extremely difficult to manage as the information he gave had to be proven as it was often untrue.

In 2010, he volunteered to take part in an activity to show his cooperation with agencies.

But during the activity he was arrested for breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) as it was discovered he had

been in the company of a child. At the time of his most recent arrest in 2011 he was subject to conditions under a Community Order.

Effective sharing of information took place between the police and probation service as the officers involved kept close links.

After intelligence was received a surveillance operation took place and its success required close working and exchanges of information between police, probation and health agencies.

The offender was subsequently seen

entering a house where children were present, which placed him in breach of his SOPO.

Further investigation showed that he had been grooming the family over a period of weeks and had begun to conduct private chats via the internet with one of the children.

The offender is now in custody.

Without the effective sharing of information and team work demonstrated by the agencies involved, the offender may have gone on to commit other offences.

Mr

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The Statistics: 2011̶2012

MAPPA-eligible offenders on 31 March 2012

Category 1: Registered sex offenders

Category 2: Violent offenders

Category 3: Other dangerous offenders

Total

Level 1 1,935 1,114 - 3,049

Level 2 8 15 4 27

Level 3 3 0 2 5

Total 1,946 1,129 6 3,081

MAPPA-eligible offenders in Levels 2 and 3 by category (yearly total) Category 1:

Registered sex offenders



Total

Level 2 50 106 49 205

Level 3 23 18 20 61

Total 73 124 69 266

Restrictive orders for Category 1 offenders

Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs), Notification Orders (NOs) & Foreign Travel Orders (FTOs) imposed by the courts

SOPOs 110

NOs 0

FTOs 0


Level 2 and 3 offenders returned to custody̶ Breach of licence Category 1:




Total

Level 2 3 9 14 26

Level 3 1 1 2 4

Total 4 10 16 30



Level 2 and 3 offenders returned to custody̶ Breach of Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs) Category 1:




Total

Level 2 1 - - 1

Level 3 2 - - 2

Total 3 - - 3

Total number of Registered Sexual Offenders per 100,000 population 83

This figure has been calculated using the 2011 Mid-Year Population Estimate published by the Office for National Statistics on 25 September 2012, excluding those aged less than ten years of age.

RSOs cautioned or convicted for breach of notification requirements 38

Explanation of statistical tables The totals of MAPPA-eligible offenders, broken down by category, reflect the picture on 31 March 2012 (i.e. they are a snapshot). The rest of the data covers the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012.

(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 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.

organisation provides someone to talk to in confidence, information on the police and court processes, help in dealing with other organisations,

If you have been a victim of crime or have been affected by a crime committed against someone you know then free support is available from Victim Support. The independent

I have experienced a strong

culture of openness and I

have met many truly

dedicated and committed

individuals who represent

agencies which are striving to

deliver best practice.

During the serious case

review and the audit of various

parts of the service, I have

observed the scrutiny of the

processes, the outcome and

recommendations and the

implementation of any actions.

To my understanding, these

have been challenging and

robust with the sole purpose

of strengthening, refining and

improving the risk

management of MAPPA

offenders.

We all know that

communication and shared

knowledge between agencies

can only benefit the complex

task of managing the risk of

often difficult and

unpredictable offenders.

As I vacate my role as Lay

Adviser, I go confident in the

knowledge that the constant,

determined and professional

approach from all agencies

means that where there is

risk, the risk is minimised.

Sophia Lapsley

Lay Adviser

As my term as Lay Adviser

comes to an end, it is a good

opportunity for me to reflect on

the work that I have witnessed

from all the agencies involved

in the management of MAPPA

offenders.

As one of two Lay Advisers,

my role has been that of a

typical member of the

community who acts as an

impartial “critical friend” to the

MAPPA agencies. I have

observed and participated in

MAPPA meetings, board

meetings, audits and a serious

case review, and at all times I

have always felt welcome and

valued.

information on other sources of help.

To contact your Greater Manchester branch telephone 0845 456 8800 or go to www.victimsupport.org/

www.gmp.police.uk

www.gm-probation.org.uk

www.justice.gov.uk/about/hmps

Lay Adviser viewpoint

Victim Support

Greater Manchester Police

Greater Manchester Probation Trust

Her Majesty’s Prison Service

Documents

MAPPA Annual Report 2011-12