MAPPA

MAPPA - Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements was introduced in 2001 as the statutory arrangements for managing sexual and violent offenders.

MAPPA is not a statutory body in itself but is a mechanism through which agencies can better discharge their statutory responsibilities and protect the public in a co-ordinated way.

The Police, probation providers and Prison Services working together are the Responsible Authority (RA). Together they have a duty and responsibility for ensuring that MAPPA operates in their area.

It is a process through which the Police, probation providers and Prison Services work together with other agencies to help reduce the reoffending behaviour of violent and sexual offenders living in the community in order to protect the public.

The purpose of MAPPA is to ensure that comprehensive risk assessments are undertaken and robust risk management plans put in place. MAPPA takes advantage of co-ordinated information sharing across the agencies on each MAPPA offender and ensures that appropriate resources are directed in a way that enhances public protection.

Offenders eligible for MAPPA are identified and information is gathered/shared about them across relevant agencies. The nature and level of the risk of harm they pose is assessed and a risk management plan is implemented to protect the public.

A risk management plan sets out the action that needs to be taken to minimise the risk.

Some measures that can be considered are:

- Ensuring offenders have suitable accommodation, which can include requiring the offender to reside at a probation run Approved Premises.

- Placing controls on the offenders behaviour through strict post custody licence conditions which can include not to have contact with a named individual and not to enter a defined exclusion zone;

- Intensive supervision by a probation officer offender manager and/or community public protection police:

  • Curfew restrictions and/or electronic tagging
  • Ensure that if appropriate the offender receives appropriate health care; and
  • Ensure the offender attends identified accredited programmes and other interventions (such as drug and alcohol programmes) aimed at reducing further offending.