MAPPA Annual Report 2002

1. Introduction

Local arrangements in Sussex began in response to

the Sex Offenders Act 1997 when Police and Probation
made joint arrangements for the assessment and
management of registered sex offenders. We have built
on those arrangements over the past few years and we
now have a Multi-Agency Protocol agreed by Police,
Probation, Health, Housing, Youth Offending Teams
and Social Services for the assessment and
management of sex and other violent and dangerous
offenders. These arrangements fully meet the
requirements under Sections 67 and 68 of the Criminal
Justice and Court Services Act 2000.

This document provides details of the arrangements

made in Sussex and gives contact points for any
additional enquiries including agencies other than
police and probation.
2. Summary of Roles and Responsibilities
All the relevant agencies in Sussex
are actively engaged with the multi-
agency arrangements for public
protection. A summary of their roles
and responsbilities as they relate to
the Sussex MAPPP are outlined as
follows:
Sussex Police operates across the
whole area (East and West Sussex
and Brighton & Hove). They are
jointly responsible (with Sussex
Probation) for the development of
the MAPPP initiative, the chairing of
meetings and the provision of
detailed information on offenders, to
make informed decisions pertaining
to risk. They contribute surveillance
and other activity to carry out the
recommendations of the MAPPP
Sussex Probation are co-
terminous with the Police area and
are jointly responsible (with Sussex
Police) for the development of the
MAPPP initiative, the chairing of
meetings and the provision of
detailed information on offenders, to
make informed decisions pertaining
to risk. They supervise adult
offenders subject to community
sentences and post release licence
and parole. There are specialist
Public Protection Teams (PPTs) that
supervise all high-risk offenders.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Outline of Arrangements Made
In addition to the day-to-day work
outlined above, Sussex has
developed multi-agency arrange-
ments for the assessment and
management of sexual, violent and
other dangerous offenders.
Whenever a joint or multi-agency
approach would improve public
protection, Police, Probation and the
other relevant agencies (Youth
Offending Team, Housing, Health,
They are responsible for protecting
the public from offenders on
community supervision, by
undertaking risk assessments on all
cases and putting into effect risk
management strategies appropriate
to the risks identified. PPTs make
the majority of referrals to the
MAPPP
Social Services/Social Care
agencies work within the county and
unitary authorities of East Sussex,
West Sussex and Brighton & Hove.
They have responsibility, amongst
other roles, to protect children and
vulnerable adults from danger and
abuse. Some posts are the joint
responsibility of Social Care and
Health
Forensic Community Mental
Health Teams cover the MAPPP
within two geographical areas -
namely East Sussex/Brighton &
Hove (based at Ashen Hill,
Hailsham) and West Sussex (no
central base but practitioners located
in Worthing, Crawley and
Chichester). The forensic teams are
responsible, amongst other roles, for
assessment and treatment of
offenders requiring psychiatric
treatment, including mentally
disordered offenders, and those with
Social Services) aim to share
information and make joint plans if
necessary.
In order to manage demand and to
ensure resources are appropriately
targeted at the highest risk only a
minority of cases can be fully
reviewed by the MAPPP. However,
experience informs us that unless
the agencies share information the
personality disorder. This includes
both community and secure
residential facilities.
Local Authority Housing
Departments and Registered Social
Landlords work to a number of local
authorities across Sussex via district,
borough and city councils to provide
housing facilities for those in need,
including offenders. These needs
are also met by voluntary agencies
and hostels. Each MAPPP has a
nominated housing representative
who liases with colleagues in other
housing departments.
There are three Youth Offending
Teams across Sussex, one in each
local authority area (East and West
Sussex and Brighton & Hove). They
supervise all young offenders (under
18 years of age) subject to
community sentences and post
release licence and are responsible
for protecting the public from young
offenders under supervision in the
community by undertaking risk
assessments on all cases and
putting into effect risk management
strategies.
risk is often hidden or under-
estimated. Therefore there are two
distinct processes:
Screening of referrals by local
Risk Assessment Meetings (RAMs)
MAPPP review of referrals
identified as highest risk
There are five RAMs grouped
geographically around Sussex Police
divisions – two RAMs in each county
and one in Brighton & Hove. In
addition there are three MAPPPs
one in each of the local authority
boundaries of West Sussex;
Brighton & Hove; and East Sussex.
RAMs and MAPPPs each meet on a
monthly basis. RAMs are chaired by
local Detective Inspectors, with
support from Senior Probation
Officers. MAPPPs are chaired by
either a senior manager from Sussex
Police (Superintendent) or Sussex
Probation (Assistant Chief Officer).
Sussex Police and Sussex Probation
are jointly responsible for the
planning of agendas and collating
relevant information. Agendas and
relevant papers are sent out in
advance. The two agencies jointly
fund a full-time administrator/co-
ordinator who is responsible for the
collation and circulation of advance
information and the recording of all
MAPPP decisions.
It is expected that participants at the
RAM and MAPPP will contribute
their knowledge and skills from the
perspective of their professional
expertise and will have sufficient
authority to make a preliminary
commitment of their organisation or
professional sector to the
implementation of an agreed risk
management plan.
Referrals can be submitted by any
agency but the vast majority are
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
likely to be made by the Probation
Service in respect of sexual and
violent offenders being released
from prison on licence or subject to
other community penalties.
The following cases are normally
referred for the initial screening
process:
All sex offenders subject to
registration under the 1997 Sex
Offenders Act.
All violent offenders sentenced to
at least 12 months in custody (or
subject to qualifying mental health
disposals).
If either Mental Health or Social
Services are responsible for the
supervision of an offender on a
Mental Health Act Restriction Order
or a potentially dangerous person,
then that agency will ordinarily
initiate the referral.
Where no other agency is involved
the Police will normally take
responsibility for initiating a referral
(e.g. registered sex offenders not
subject to Probation supervision).
In addition to automatic referrals
each agency may refer those
offenders whose antecedents and
behaviour indicates they may cause
serious harm to the public or where
there are serious community
concerns or a high media profile.
Referring agencies may in addition
to the referral form include relevant
information and reports to assist the
assessment of risk (e.g. pre-
sentence and parole reports,
psychiatric reports etc). This may
require liaison with other agencies to
secure such information.
The Police will ordinarily be
responsible for providing an up-to-
date list of previous convictions for
all referrals and any relevant Police
intelligence (including Prison/Police
liaison information).
Referrals include information from
relevant risk assessment tools.
These generally include the Offender
Group Reconviction Score (OGRS) –
an actuarial assessment tool; the
Offender Assessment System
(OASys) – a detailed system for
assessing likelihood of reconviction,
factors linked to offending, and risks
of serious harm that is soon to be in
general use throughout the National
Probation Service and the Prison
Service; and specialist violent and
sexual offender assessment tools
e.g. the Thornton Risk Matrix 2000 –
a questionnaire of critical factors
enabling an assessment of the level
of risk presented by an individual
offender.
It is intended that all eligible
custodial cases will normally be
referred at least three months prior
to expected release to allow for
proper pre-release planning.
4. Strategic Management Arrangements
The MAPPP arrangements in
Sussex are overseen by a multi-
agency steering group comprising
the signatories to the MAPPP
protocol. The group meets at least
quarterly and the terms of reference
are to:
Monitor the performance of the
MAPPPs and RAMs
Identify and disseminate best
practice
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Disclosure
Statutory power of disclosure
The Police have a common law
duty to prevent and detect crime and
a corresponding power to disclose
information where necessary for the
prevention and detection of crime.
Other public bodies have a similar
duty to protect public safety
In addition, the Crime and
Disorder Act 1998 (Section 17)
places a statutory duty on every
local authority to ‘exercise its various
functions … with due regard to …
the need to do all that it reasonably
can to prevent … crime and disorder
in its area.’
Section 115 of the Act provides
legal authority for those agencies
involved in the MAPPP procedures
to share information for the above
purpose
The Human Rights Act 1998
enshrines the European Convention
on Human Rights into English law.
Of particular relevance to this
protocol is Article 8, the Right to
Identify and organise necessary
training and developmental
opportunities for agency
representatives on panels
Review and amend as necessary
the multi-agency protocol and
associated guidance
Ensure systems for efficient
recording and collation of data in
respect of cases referred
Respect for Private and Family Life.
However this Right is qualified as
follows, “There shall be no
interference by a public authority
with the exercise of this right except
such as is in accordance with the
law and is necessary in a democratic
society in the interest of … public
safety … for the prevention or
detection of crime for the protection
of health or morals, or for the
protection of the rights and freedoms
of others.”
Sussex Disclosure Protocol
Information sharing and disclosure
are defined and described in a multi-
agency MAPPP protocol for Sussex.
Information sharing does not extend
to further dissemination of material
outside partner agencies without the
prior agreement of the MAPPP
members.
Agencies involved in the MAPPPs
have a responsibility to openly share
information under their control about
offenders with other panel members
Undertake inter-agency reviews of
serious incidents involving cases
referred to MAPPPs
Prepare an annual report to inform
the public of the work of the Sussex
MAPPPs
provided it is relevant to the risk
posed by that offender
The MAPPP can decide in a
particular case that, as part of the
wider risk management process, it
can make notifications to individuals,
groups or sections of the community
if it is felt that this is proportional and
justifiable. Community notifications
are only made where there is a
pressing need and each decision on
whether or not to disclose has to be
justified on the basis of the likelihood
of the harm which non-disclosure
might otherwise cause.
When deciding on formal disclosure
the MAPPP must consider the
following.
• Disclosure must be to specified
individuals.
• There must be a clear purpose to
the disclosure.
• Requirements as to the authorised
use of that information by the
recipient must be detailed
• Legal advice should be sought if
widespread or public disclosure is
considered appropriate (the
solicitors to the Sussex Police
Authority provide this service
through the Panel Chair)
The grounds for disclosure should
be: -
• Justifiable
• Authorised
• Proportionate
• Accountable
• Necessary
There have been a number of
occasions when MAPPP
authorisation for the sharing of
information and a decision to
disclose to other parties has had a
positive outcome in enabling risk to
be successfully managed in the
community.
Example 1:
A young male sex offender with
learning difficulties moved into the
area to live with his parents. They
gave positive support and were
part of the plan to reduce his risk of
re-offending. The neighbours
became aware of his offending and
a range of myths and negative
feelings emerged. It became
necessary for the MAPPP to
discuss alternative risk
management plans.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Discussion at the MAPPP
produced a decision to sensitively
disclose information to neighbours
and deal with their questions and
concerns. This was undertaken by
several of the agencies together
and was effective in reducing the
negative feelings and enabled the
offender to continue to live within
his family.
Example 2:
Discussion at the MAPPP about a
known long-term paedophile seen
by Police to be visiting a
swimming pool during sessions
involving young children resulted
in the decision to disclose
information about the offender to
the manager of the pool. The
offender was banned from
attending.
Example 3:
A high-risk sex offender was
discussed at a MAPPP following a
referral from the RAM for advice.
The offender had made contact
with his brother’s son (his
nephew) and there was a concern
that this may be the first step to
grooming. It was agreed to
disclose his convictions to his
brother to avoid the likelihood of
re-offending and to enable the
child to be protected
Example 4:
The MAPPP agreed disclosure to
a local church following
information that the offender was
forming an association with a
young women and children and
appeared to be targeting young
vulnerable single parents
attending church groups
Similarly there have been occasions
when local initiatives in respect of
awareness raising and public
education have assisted in lowering
community tensions
Example 5:
Concern and media attention
following a high profile child
murder was discussed at the
MAPPP. The decision was taken
for representatives of the MAPPP,
including senior Police, Social
Services and Probation staff to
attend a meeting with local
councillors to discuss public
concerns and share information.
The meeting was able to put the
issues into some context,
acknowledge the impact of such
an event on the community and
inform the local leaders of the
activities of the MAPPP and RAM
process in operating to reduce the
risk of such offenders in their
community.
6. Victims Work
Victim Contact Scheme
Under Section 69 of the Criminal
Justice and Court Services Act 2000,
Local Probation Boards have a duty,
in cases of certain sexual and violent
offences, to make contact with the
victim(s) and/or their families. The
purpose of this contact is to ensure
the victim(s) or families understand
the custodial process, including the
length of time the offender spends in
custody and on licence, to enable
them to make representations about
any conditions or requirements
attached to any licence which the
offender should be subject to on
release. The Probation Board is
required to inform victim(s) of the
outcome of representations and
licence requirements where relevant,
e.g. if there is a condition not to go
within a certain radius of the victim’s
home.
Sussex Probation Area has operated
a Victim Contact Scheme since
1995 that meets these requirements.
Contact is made with known victims,
within two months of the sentence, in
all cases involving serious sexual
and other violent offences and they
are offered the opportunity of being
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
kept informed of the sentence and to
express any concerns which they
would wish to be taken into account
when the offender’s release is being
considered.
The scheme provides a Victim
Contact Co-ordinator and three local
victim contact officers (based in
Brighton, Crawley and Hastings).
These personnel are part of Sussex
Probation Area’s Public Protection
Team and cover the three local
authority areas concerned with the
Sussex Multi-Agency Public
Protection Panel arrangements.
The contact for the Victim Contact
Scheme is the Co-ordinator.
telephone. 01273 669500
Victim Support Services
Victim Support is the national charity
for people affected by crime. It is an
independent organisation offering a
free and confidential service whether
or not a crime has been reported.
Trained staff and volunteers at local
branches offer information and
support to victims, witnesses, their
families and friends.
Victim Support provides a Witness
Service based in every criminal court
in England and Wales to offer
assistance before, during and after a
trial. They can be contacted by
calling the Victim Support line 0845
30 30 900 for information and
support and details of local services
and other relevant organisations.
The Sussex Victim Support Scheme
operates across East and West
Sussex and Brighton & Hove, with
contact centres in most local towns
and witness support services at the
two Sussex Crown Courts (Lewes
and Chichester) and all Magistrates’
Courts. Senior Police and Probation
representatives attend VSS
directors’ meetings and periodically
advise on issues.
The Sussex Victim Support Scheme
Head Office in Shoreham can be
contacted on 01273 870444 and the
details of local services and contacts
will soon be available on a website.
A list of local contact numbers is
attached below
 SUSSEX

Telephone contact numbers:

HEAD OFFICE 01273 870444

BRANCHES

Brighton 01273 234009 Hove 01273 439942

Chichester 01243 829089 Littlehampton 01903 731133
Crawley 01293 613010 Seahaven and Lewes 01273 404360
Eastbourne 01323 728201 Weald 01342 317139
Hastings 01424 424393 Worthing 01903 210959
Horsham 01403 750450

SUSSEX

CROWN COURTS AND MAGISTRATES COURTS

Brighton 01273 694949 Hove 01273 776997

Chichester 01243 782422 Lewes 01273 487605
Eastbourne 01323 642758 Mid-Sussex 01403 272821
Hastings 01424 461028 Worthing 01903 200477

Other Victim Services

Brighton & Hove also has a Home Office funded Anti-Victimisation Unit based at Brighton Police
Station, staffed with a multi-disciplinary team from several local agencies. This Unit provides support
services for victims of racially motivated offending, gay and lesbian victims and victims of domestic
violence

The contact number of Brighton & Hove AVU is 01273 665502 or 665800
7. Statistical Information
The local statistical information is
summarised on ANNEX B
These figures are compiled from:
Sussex Police statistics on
offenders registered as a
requirement of the Sex Offenders
Act 1997
Sussex Probation Area statistics
on the number of offenders on
statutory supervision or in custody
for sexual or violent offences as
classified under Sections 67 and 68
of the Criminal Justice and Court
Services Act 2000
The total number of offenders
considered under these headings for
Sussex this year is 1004
The cost of the local arrangements
The costs attached as ANNEX C are
estimates based on unit salary and
travel costs for each agency in
undertaking the extra work
associated with MAPPP meetings
during the year (including
preparation, travel time, meeting
attendance and follow-up). The unit
costs assume all agencies are fully
represented.
Please note:
Police costs include full time salary
costs for an additional Intelligence
Officer (PC) attached to the
MAPPP/RAM
The full time MAPPP co-ordinator’s
post has not been included this year
as this post has only recently been
appointed. (This will be funded jointly
in future years - 75% by Police and
25% by Probation). A nominal
administration cost has been added
to the Police column for this year
only
This year’s costs take into account
the different starting dates of the
three MAPPP meetings in the year
(November for West Sussex,
September for East Sussex and July
for Brighton & Hove). The recurring
annual costs to the agencies are
roughly estimated to total £163,420.

For simplicity the costs do NOT

include the agency contributions to
the RAM meetings as it was
assumed these risk assessment
panels were extensions of existing
risk management procedures under
Sex Offender Registration. It should
be noted, however, that the RAM
meetings have become more lengthy
and detailed and require significant
additional preparation and meeting
time to that which existed before.
Annex B Number of Offenders

i. The number of Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) in the community

on 31 03 02 (s.68(2) CJ &CS Act 2000) 508

The number of RSOs per 100,000 population 33

ii. The number of SOs cautioned/convicted for breaches of

registration requirement 01 04 01 – 31 03 02 18

iii. The number of Sex Offender Orders 01 04 01 – 31 03 02

(a) Total applied for 4

(b) Granted 2

(c) Not granted 1

(d) Applications stil in progress 1

iv. The number of violent offenders and other sex offenders 01 04 01

– 31 03 02 (s.68(3), (4) and (5) CJ & CS Act 2000) 496

The number of other offenders 01 04 01 – 31 03 02 (s.67(2)(b) CJ &

CS Act 2000) 1
Annex C
Additional Cost of Local MAPPP Arrangements

SUSSEX AREA

Sussex Probation Sussex Police Other Sussex

Board Agencies Total
£000s £000s £000s £000s

Staff costs 18.08 63.39 16.98 98.45

Other costs 0.25 0.30 0.50 1.05

Total expenditure 18.33 63.69 17.48 99.50

Income - - - -

Net expenditure 18.33 63.69 17.48 99.50

Contacts

Joint Chair of Sussex MAPPPs

Sussex Probation Area Address Phone

Peter Haynes Sussex Probation Area 01273 227979

Assistant Chief Officer Public Protection Head Office
peter.haynes@sussex.probation.gsx.gov.uk 185 Dyke Road
HOVE BN3 1TL

Sussex Police Address Phone

Alan Ladley Sussex Police 0845 6070 999

Detective Superintendent Operations and Intelligence Branch
alan.ladley@sussex.police.uk Sussex House
BRIGHTON BN1 8AF

Public Protection Steering Group – Sussex MAPPPs

Sussex Police Address Phone

Derek Oakensen Sussex Police 0845 6070 999

Superintendent Community Safety Department
derek.oakensen@sussex.police.uk UCKFIELD TN22 5DL

East Sussex Address Phone

Stuart Gallimore East Sussex Social Services 01273 481289

Head of Child Protection PO Box 5
stuart.gallimore@eastsussexcc.gov.uk County Hall
St Anne’s Crescent
LEWES BN7 1SW

Kate Dawson East Sussex Social Services 01273 481000

Operations Manager, Mental Health PO Box 5
kate.dawson@eastsussexcc.gov.uk County Hall
St Anne’s Crescent
LEWES BN7 1SW

Roger Moore Lewes District Council 01273 484016

Policy and Development Officer 2 Fisher Street
roger.moore@lewes.gov.uk LEWES BN7 2DG
West Sussex Address Phone

Danny Seymour West Sussex Health and Social Care 01903 843750
Tertiary Services Co-ordinator NHS Trust
danny.seymour@wshsc.nhs.uk 43 Madeira Avenue
WORTHING BN11 2AX

Frank Hickson Arun District Council - Housing 01903 737718

Head of Housing Contract Services Church Street
frank.hickson@arun.gov.uk LITTLEHAMPTON BN17 5EP

Ian Treadwell West Sussex County Council Social 01243 852700

Child Protection Adviser and Caring Services
ian.treadwell@westsussex.gov.uk Bognor Health Centre
West Street
BOGNOR PO21 1UT

Brighton & Hove Address Phone

Paul Allen Brighton & Hove City Council 01273 293377

Neighbourhood Services Manager West Neighbourhood Office
paul.allen@brighton-hove.gov.uk Victoria Road
PORTSLADE BN41 1YF

Fiona Johnson Brighton & Hove Social Care and Health 01273 295377
Group Manager Child Protection Hove Park Mansions
fiona.johnson@brighton-hove.gov.uk Hove Park Villas
HOVE BN3 6HW