Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
CUMBRIA
ANNUAL REPORT
2001 – 2002
i. INTRODUCTION
Local arrangements for the management and assessment of violent and sexual
offenders began in response to the Sex Offenders Act 1997. Since 1998,
collaborative and effective frameworks to promote public protection as a priority
area of work, have been developed by the Police and Probation Services in
Cumbria.
The importance of these arrangements has been clearly identified in the Police
and Probation Area Plans for Cumbria. This first annual report will provide further
details of the arrangements made in Cumbria and gives contact points for any
additional enquiries including agencies other than the Police and Probation.
The progress of this work recently has been characterised by a willingness on the
part of the other groups to be involved in the management and practice
development of public protection in Cumbria.
All relevant agencies and groups are represented on a case by case basis within
Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels (MAPPP). They provide the accurate
exchange of information and the creation of risk management strategies which
are designed to take account of the needs of individuals and the resources that
different groups can bring to the management of specific cases.
To ensure that all relevant groups have been included in this work, a county wide
launch of the recently published Joint Arrangements Protocol was held. At this
event a wide range of agencies and community groups contributed to the
continuing development of practice within the county.
i.
For the highest risk offenders a MAPPP will be convened. Cases for consideration within
a MAPPP will primarily be from the Police and Probation. The case is assessed using the
assessment procedures approved within each agency. (eg OASys* and Structured
Anchored Clinical Judgement 2001). Where the level of perceived risk is regarded as very
high a MAPPP will be convened. Where a high-risk sex offender is registered with the
Police and assessed as very high and there is no other agency involvement, the Police
will convene and chair the MAPPP.
The purpose of the panel is to identify risk and reduce that risk by means of an agreed
risk management strategy. The focus of planned activity will always be to protect the
public and reduce any likelihood of offending or dangerous behaviour.
MAPPP meetings in Cumbria are held on a case by case basis. They review the progress
of risk management strategies on a regular basis and are monitored and overseen by a
strategic county group of senior managers. A Senior Probation Officer has the functional
responsibility to co-ordinate MAPPP arrangements.
The operating principles and procedures of the MAPPPs are contained in Cumbria’s
protocol on the joint arrangements by the Probation Board and Cumbria Constabulary for
the management and assessment of risks posed by sex offenders and potentially
dangerous offenders.
Locally based management groups have also been established to ensure joint
assessments of relevant individuals by the Police, Probation and other relevant agencies.
Joint risk assessments are undertaken and very high-risk cases are referred for a MAPPP
to be convened. All other cases will be the subject of case discussion and information
exchange within the agreed protocols.
All MAPPP meetings are chaired by either the Police (Detective Chief Inspector) or
Probation (Assistant Chief Officer or Senior Probation Officer). The agenda and minutes
of the MAPPPs conform to an agreed format and are contained within a High Risk
Database.
The group has senior and middle manager representation from the following agencies in
Cumbria:-
Police
Probation
NSPCC
Health Service
HM Prison Service
Social Services
Housing
Youth Offending Team
The group provides strategic oversight of the management and assessment procedures of
relevant offenders within the county and evaluates area wide statistical returns. In addition
the group:-
The group has developed a close and effective network of relationships that has provided
clear leadership for the county. This was demonstrated by the highly successful launch of
the Multi-Agency Joint Arrangements which received significant support and media
coverage.
Persons cautioned by the Police or convicted by a court of a relevant offence are obliged
to register with the Police. They are served with a notice informing them of their
obligations to do so. If they are sentenced to imprisonment this is done by the court at the
time of conviction and upon release from prison, they are again reminded of their
obligation.
Once they have been served with such a notice, offenders are recorded on the Police
National Computer as an “unregistered” sex offender. This allows us to monitor
compliance. Once they have registered, the PNC record is updated to “registered”. Any
changes are also updated on PNC. The PNC system also allows us to ‘flag’ offenders
who have not registered within the 7 day stipulated period and recently (March 2002) one
of our offenders who was on the PNC as wanted/missing was arrested at Heathrow
Airport for failing to register.
v. DISCLOSURE
Specific information on individuals is made available to the public where it is
identified that such disclosures would reduce the risks posed and serve to protect
the public from individual offenders.
¾ A 27 year old male was released from a 3 year term of imprisonment for sexual
offences against children. The man was subject to an extended licence
supervised by the Probation Service. Prior to release a MAPPP was held where a
joint strategy of rigorous supervision, surveillance and support was agreed
between the Police, Probation, Housing providers and the Health Service.
Due to the nature of the man’s offending it was felt appropriate to advise staff of
local libraries and leisure facilities of his description and whereabouts. This was
undertaken by the Police. When it became apparent that the man was behaving
inappropriately and visiting specific leisure facilities, his licence was immediately
revoked and he was returned to custody before any sexual offences were
committed.
¾ A 51 year old male served an eight year term of imprisonment for serious assaults
against females. The man was subject to rigorous licence conditions, supervised
by the Probation Service following release from prison.
A series of MAPPP meetings were held and as part of the risk management
strategy it was agreed that the Police and Probation Service would undertake joint
interviews with the man. This led to contact being established with a number of
individuals with whom he had established a relationship. They were clearly
advised of the man’s background and potential risks in order to prevent any
further victims. In addition, prior to any job interviews, the offender’s prospective
employer was contacted and visited by Police and Probation to ensure they were
fully informed of the man’s background. This approach was supported by effective
liaison with the local employment service.
As part of our approach to informing the public of the work undertaken in their
behalf, a Public Protection Media Protocol has been established in Cumbria. The
protocol allows effective liaison with representatives of the local press to ensure
relevant and appropriate information is shared when required with the press.
The launch of the Joint Arrangements Protocol in March 2002 provided the press
with a significant opportunity to support the process of informing the public of this
work. The event was covered by BBC Radio Cumbria, Border Television News
and four regional newspapers
i.
Section 69 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act created a new statutory
duty for the Probation Service to make contact with the victims of violent or sexual
offences where the offender was sentenced to between 12 months and 4 years
imprisonment. A system already existed for the victims of offenders serving more
than 4 years.
Victim Contact Officers, within the Probation Service, make written contact with
relevant victims or the family or partner within two months of sentence being
passed. An offer of an appointment is made so that the Victim Contact Officer can
explain the sentence and discuss any issues surrounding a release date when
known.
Increasingly in Cumbria the work of the Victim Contact Officers is informing the
work of MAPPPs and this often leads to action protect victims as part of a risk
management strategy e.g. contact with the Police and installation of security
alarms in the homes of vulnerable victims.
On average, the Probation Service is in contact with 40 victims across the county
at any one time. Victim Contact work is quite different to the Victim Support
Scheme which can be contacted on:- Victim Support Scheme, Lime House,
Wetheral, Cumbria, CA4 8EW, 01228 562638.
Victim Contact Officers liaise with Victim Support Schemes where additional
support is required for victims.
vii. STATISTICAL INFORMATION
i. The number of registered sex offenders on 31 March each 147
year.
147
• All registered sex offenders (as above).
44
• All offenders who fall within section 68 (3) on or after 1 April 2001 up
to and including 31 March 2002 (unless they already feature as a
registered sex offender). The meaning of sexual or violent offence
for the purpose of this subsection is provided at Annex A).
6
• Any other offender considered under the local multi-agency
arrangements because they were assessed as posing a high risk of
serious harm to the public (but who did not fall within either of the
two categories immediately above)
viii. ADDITIONAL COST OF LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS
Probation Board Police Other Agencies Total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Staff costs 7.5 7.5 1.5 16
Income - - - -