WEST MIDLANDS 09-10

P.6 Sarah’s Law P.7 Mandatory polygraph pilot P.7 Paragon and public MAPPA protection MULTI-AGENCY PUBLIC PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS ANNUAL REPORT 2009 - 10 Working together for safer communities Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust and MAPPA On 1st April 2010 Staffordshire Probation and West Midlands Probation merged to become Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust.

The new Trust is part of both the West Midlands MAPPA and the Staffordshire MAPPA.

This is the annual report for West Midlands MAPPA. If you would like to see the Staffordshire MAPPA annual report, please see www.SWMprobation.gov.uk, Mike Maiden Chris Sims Gill Mortlock contact SWM Probation Communications Unit at Staffordshire and West Chief Executive Officer, Chief Constable Director of Offender Management, Midlands Probation on 0121 248 6570, or write to SWM Probation at Staffordshire and West Midlands West Midlands Police West Midlands Region. Probation Trust. 1 Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BD.

Violent and sex offenders have to be managed robustly, both in custody and in the community, to ensure the public are protected.

This report from the West Midlands MAPPA Strategic Management Board outlines We also reported last year on the proposed ‘lie detecting’ (polygraph testing) the work undertaken by a range of agencies in managing individuals who commit coming into effect for sexual offenders being released after April 1st 2009. sexual and violent crimes. The essence of successful work with this group of This is now well established and the West and East Midlands Regions are now offenders is the continuing professional commitment from a wide range of agencies running this national pilot. Further details are contained in the report. For offender that come together to share information and plan for the management of individual managers this provides an additional tool to help with the monitoring and offenders released back to the community. This partnership working is at the heart supervising of offenders subject to licence. of effective MAPPA processes and we are grateful to all our partners who continue Although serious violent and sexual offending makes up a small proportion of to work with us to achieve the best possible outcomes. all recorded crime it inevitably causes the greatest concern. While risk can never be In last year’s report we highlighted the Police-led pilot schemes enabling parents totally eliminated it can be managed with public protection a priority for every agency to request information on individuals who were having regular contact with their involved in the MAPPA arrangements. Through effective joint working between the children to ensure they had not previously been convicted of offences against agencies concerned, individual plans for the management of offenders can be drawn children. Those pilots have now been completed and evaluated and the scheme is together to reduce risk and manage individuals within their community. being rolled out across all police forces. In the West Midlands the scheme started The Board continues to benefit from the active engagement of its two at the beginning of August and further details are contained in this report. Lay Advisors who represent the public view, providing support and challenge All staff involved in the work of MAPPA have public protection as their core aim. to our work. All offenders subject to this oversight are assessed not only on the basis of the likelihood of reoffending but also the potential harm that would be caused by that offending. Sharing information across agencies is the key to effective work. For many offenders this process of assessment begins in prisons and follows them after release throughout the period that they are subject to any form of licence. Creating Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust We recognise that the process of sentencing and subsequent release on licence During 2009 all Probation areas were required to apply for Trust status. can appear confusing to the general public and consequently as part of this This process required Probation Areas to demonstrate their ability to meet report we have sought to explain the various forms of licence that an offender performance targets and have robust plans in place to manage reductions may be subject to. in spending whilst maintaining effective services directly to offenders. All offenders subject to licence are effectively serving the last part of their sentence The former Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation areas subsequently in the community and therefore are liable to recall should they be in breach of the decided to present a joint bid which was successful and since the 1st April conditions of their licence. Licences are central to the work of MAPPA as they allow 2010 they have become one Probation Area. Responsibility for Probation work the reintegration of an offender back into the community to be monitored in a with MAPPA across the Trust is now held by the Head of Public Protection controlled way. Where offenders are found to be in breach of their conditions Nigel Byford. Both former areas will retain a MAPPA coordinator ensuring they can place themselves at risk of being recalled to prison. Each case is kept under the smooth running of this work across all agencies and particularly with review but where necessary the Probation Offender Manager can request immediate the West Midlands and Staffordshire Police forces. recall action.

INSIDE: MAPPA WALLCHART - PAGE 4 & 5 The purposes of MAPPA are:

- To ensure more comprehensive In last year’s annual report, we outlined the key aims for Public Protection through MAPPA outlined in our business plan. MAPPA are a set of arrangements to A number of other agencies are under a risk assessments are completed, REPORT ON BUSINESS PLAN The plan is a rolling three-year plan and we are pleased to report progress against the broad areas identified in last year’s report. manage the risk posed by certain duty to co-operate with the Responsible taking advantage of co-ordinated sexual and violent offenders. Authority. These include: children’s information sharing across Activity Progress services, adult social services, health What is They bring together the police, the agencies. trusts and authorities, youth offending probation and prison services in - To direct the available resources Practice development · Distribute national guidance following revision November · The national guidance remains a key document. It was due to teams, local housing authorities and certain 2008 and implement changes. be issued in November 2008 but was delayed until March 2009. Staffordshire into what is known as registered social landlords, Jobcentre Plus to best protect the public from The guidance has been made available to all staff. MAPPA? the MAPPA Responsible Authority. and electronic monitoring providers. serious harm. · Implement Youth Panel Policy. · Implement revised Duty to Co-operate procedures for · Youth Panel Policy has been partially rolled out and revision partner organisations. of process currently under way. How do the MAPPA work? Who are the MAPPA offenders? · Continued development of ViSOR -confidential database · Not progressed. Delayed to incorporate new MAPPA guidance Offenders eligible for MAPPA are identified and information is gathered/shared There are 3 categories of offender eligible for MAPPA: between Prison/Probation /Police. and specific work to improve working arrangements with mental about them across relevant agencies. The nature and level of the risk of harm they Registered sexual offenders (Category 1) - sexual offenders who are required health providers. Planned for autumn 2010. pose is assessed and a risk management plan is implemented to protect the public. to notify the police of their name, address and other personal details and notify · Ongoing development and staff training. In most cases, the offender will be managed under the ordinary arrangements any changes subsequently. applied by the agency or agencies with supervisory responsibility. A number of Violent offenders (Category 2) - offenders sentenced to imprisonment / Diversity and · Reinforce links to Local Criminal Justice Board. · Information shared with LCJB. offenders, though, require active multi-agency management and their risk detention for 12 months or more, or detained under hospital orders. This category community impact · Ensure linkages to local authority community safety strategies. · MAPPA annual report distributed to all local authorities and management plans will be formulated and monitored via MAPP meetings also includes a small number of sexual offenders who do not qualify for registration issues · SMB to provide information to assist Local Authorities prepare a number of presentations made regarding work of MAPPA. attended by various agencies. and offenders disqualified from working with children. reducing reoffending strategies. Ongoing work planned for 2010/11. Other Dangerous Offenders (Category 3) - offenders who do not qualify What is the role of the Strategic Management Board? · Information provided where possible as requested. under categories 1 or 2 but who currently pose a risk of serious harm, there is Senior representatives of each of the agencies involved in MAPPA form a link between the offending and the risk posed, and they require active a strategic management board (SMB) which meets at least quarterly to multi-agency management. With partners, · Ongoing support for Supporting People initiatives and work · Contributions to local Supporting People inspections across monitor the arrangements and direct any necessary improvements. to promote an with local accommodation providers including voluntary sector. the West Midlands in relation to high-risk offenders. How are they managed? accommodation · Further successful regional event focussing on accommodation What do the Lay Advisers do? There are 3 levels of management which are based upon the level of multi-agency strategy for high-risk issues for high-risk offenders held, led by office of the Regional The responsible authority is required to appoint 2 lay advisers to sit on the SMB. co-operation required to implement the risk management plan effectively. offenders Director of Offender Management. The lay advisers act as independent yet informed observers; able to pose questions Offenders will be moved up and down levels as appropriate. which the professionals closely involved in the work might not think of asking. Effective risk · Resources focussed according to risk levels. · Resources have continued to be focussed on those assessed They also bring to the SMB their understanding and perspective of the local Level 1 - Ordinary Management community – where they must reside or have strong links. These offenders are subject to the usual management arrangements applied management of · Develop Circles of Support and Accountability. as potentially posing high levels of risk. by whichever agency is supervising them. But this does not rule out information high-risk offenders · Information sharing with Jobcentre Plus. · SMB continue to support Circles of Support and Accountability. ViSOR sharing between agencies, via ViSOR and other routes. Two Circles have been set up but future funding is under review. · Support strategy development with Police for high-risk offenders. ViSOR is a database holding details of sexual and violent offenders, and other Level 2 - Active Multi-agency Management · Ongoing work with Jobcentre Plus to ensure that those subject · Develop offender management strategies within MAPPA dangerous persons. The three MAPPA Responsible Authority agencies - police, The risk management plans for these offenders require the active involvement of to MAPPA are not offered inappropriate employment. for offenders convicted of violent extremism. prison and probation - are able to work on the same IT system enabling the sharing several agencies via regular multi-agency public protection (MAPP) meetings. · Specific attention given to those individuals considered the of risk assessments and risk management information on individual violent and · Implement revised guidance due in January 2010 relating to Level 3 - Active Multi-agency Management highest risk in relation to gang activity. sex offenders in a timely way to reduce re-offending. multi-agency arrangements around domestic violence offenders. As with level 2 but these cases additionally require the involvement of senior officers · Process in place to manage any offenders convicted of to authorise the use of special resources, such as police surveillance or specialised extremist offences. accommodation, and/or to provide ongoing senior management oversight. · This work remains ongoing. Domestic violence Courts have been established and local areas have developed strategies for range of services. Offenders who receive life, extended sentence or an Indeterminate Sentence Understanding prisoner release licences. for Public Protection have to serve a minimum period in custody known as the ‘tariff’ imposed by the Court. Any future release on licence then has to be agreed Review audit · Monitor numbers at different levels. · Numbers are monitored on a regular basis – see statistics Many offenders subject to MAPPA will be on licence upon release. The actual by the Parole Board and such a release will only occur after careful consideration arrangements for on back page. time served in prison depends upon the type of sentence imposed by the Court. · Develop sampling system for case audit. by the Board where public protection is central to their assessment. MAPPA operation It is important to note that although an offender is released on licence they are still · SMB planning for arrangements to collect new range of · Individual case sampling now ongoing for Police and Probation. effectively serving their sentence and can be recalled back to prison by the Probation The role of MAPPA is to share information that can assist with setting licence performance information under revised guidance. · Key MAPPA performance information now routinely collected Service if they break any of the standard licence conditions or any specific additional conditions based upon an individual assessment of an offender. For victims who have · Implement revised national Serious Case Review process. for Ministry of Justice. licence condition that has been added as part of their release planning. chosen to receive basic information about an offender’s progress through the system, · New national process from 1st December 2008. Local arrangements All young offenders are released under a licence. any release is discussed with them. Consideration is given to any request from the · SMB to audit application of MAPPA processes across West Midlands. have been implemented and further revisions made victim for the licence to specify that the offender must not contact them. Offences committed after 5.4.05 Each offender is then monitored against all conditions upon release and where · MAPPA processes audit completed for all areas in West Midlands. Under 12-month sentence there are any concerns, recall will be considered and carried out if required. Re-audit planned for 2010/11. ½ in prison ½ in community - not on a licence but if reoffends this time, could be added to new sentence. Communications and · Annual report as mechanism to promote MAPPA work – · Annual report published on websites and used in meetings Standard licence conditions strategic partnerships ongoing each year. with various groups. Over 12-month sentence • To keep in touch with your supervising officer in accordance with · Promote ‘Stop It Now’ pilot project, aimed at increasing public · Stop It Now project has progressed and produced very positive ½ in prison ½ in community - on a licence and subject to any instructions that you may be given. awareness to keep children safe. results with positive feedback from parents and carers. recall to prison if fails to comply. · Promote linkages between MAPPA and Local Children · Continued representation by Child Protection leads from • If required, to receive visits from your supervising officer at your Safeguarding Boards. voluntary and statutory sector on SMB. Safeguarding a standing home/place of residence. item on agenda. Sentences for Public Protection - 2 types Extended Sentence and Inderteminate sentence · Support for regional work to improve communication on those • Permanently to reside at an address approved by your supervising officer felt to pose a risk to children moving through Criminal Justice · Regional work, collaboration between Police Probation, Prisons Extended Sentence and notify him or her in advance of any proposed change of address System (PPRC). and Safeguarding Boards completed and regional manual launched Judge specifies custodial period. Halfway Released into community by Parole or any proposed stay (even for one night) away from that approved address. · Rollout across region of revised PPRC procedure manual planned March 2008. This has now been reviewed by a multi-agency through this, Parole Board considers if he Board or at end of custodial period. for autumn 2009. group from across the West of Midlands region and updated version could be released earlier. If not granted, On licence until end of extended • Undertake only such work (including voluntary work) approved by your issued. Manual and training materials have been rolled out via local · To respond to any recommendations arising from Lamming inquiry will serve whole of custody period. period set by the Judge. supervising officer and notify him or her in advance of any proposed change. safeguarding boards. and improving arrangements for multi-agency working in respect Indeterminate Sentence • Not to travel outside the United Kingdom unless otherwise directed by of children. · Safeguarding remains a key focus for all involved with MAPPA. In custody until considered safe to be Released into community on licence your supervising officer (permission for which will be given in exceptional Recommendations arising from any enquiry are routinely considered released -only where recomended by the for up to 10 years. circumstances only) or for the purpose of complying with immigration by agencies for practice improvement. Parole Board. deportation/removal. Life Sentence Training · Provision of staff training – this is an ongoing item. · Briefing events have been run for a variety of staff representing • To be well behaved, not to commit any offence and not to do anything different organisations. A training plan has been developed and In custody until considered safe to be Released into community on licence which could undermine the purpose of your supervision, which is to protect · Reviewing and implement MAPPA training from new national training use is being made of the new national training materials. released -only where recomended by the for life. the public, prevent you from re-offending and help you to re-settle manual issued May 2009 Parole Board. successfully into the community.

2 MAPPA ANNUAL REPORT 2009 - 10 MAPPA ANNUAL REPORT 2009 - 10 3 Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in the West Midlands BIRMINGHAM

Police Public Protection Units Birmingham North Birmingham East Sutton Coldfield Police Station Stechford Police Station Lichfield Road Station Road Sutton Coldfield Stechford West Midlands Police B74 2NR Birmingham B33 8RR Birmingham South Brownhills Bournville Police Station Birmingham West and Central Public Protection Units (PPUs) & 341 Bournville Lane Ladywood Police Station Birmingham Ladywood Middleway B30 1QZ Birmingham Local Policing Units (LPUs) B16 8SY Probation Units WEDNESFIELD Bloxwich Please refer to the ‘Further Information’ panel below for details Erdington Homeless Offenders Resettlement Greencoat House Aldridge Stuart Court, 73/75 Station Road Unit (HORU) 259 Stratford Road WILLENHALL Erdington B23 6UG 11-15 Lower Essex Street B5 6SN Sparkbrook B11 1QS WALSALL WOLVERHAMPTON Tel: 0121 248 5600 Tel: 0121 248 6460 Tel: 0121 248 5611

Darlaston Selly Oak Saltley Lower Essex Street 826 Bristol Road 12 High Street 18-28 Lower Essex Street Bilston Selly Oak B29 6NA Saltley B8 1JR Birmingham B5 6SN SUTTON COLDFIELD Tel: 0121 248 6680 Tel: 0121 248 6150 Tel: 0121 248 6400 Wednesbury Key Perry Barr Hamstead Road Public Protection Units Sedgley BIRMINGHAM NORTH 76 Walsall Road 326/328 Hamstead Road Tipton Youth Offending Teams Birmingham B42 1SF Handsworth B20 2RA Tel: 0121 248 6340 Tel: 0121 248 6500 WEST BROMWICH BIRMINGHAM COVENTRY SOLIHULL Dudley Kingswinford WEST - CENTRAL Erdington SANDWELL Police Public Protection Unit Police Public Protection Unit Solihull Probation Unit DUDLEY Coventry Police Station Solihull North Police Station Centenary House Oldbury SMETHWICK Little Park Street Ceolmund Crescent Mackadown Lane, Kitts Green BRIERLEY HILL Coventry Chelmsley Wood, B37 5UB Birmingham, B33 0LQ Ladywood CV1 2JX Tel: 0121 248 3660 Old Hill Solihull Probation Unit STECHFORD Coventry Probation Unit Homer Road, Solihull Solihull 70 Little Park Street B91 3RD BIRMINGHAM EAST North Coventry CV1 2UR Tel: 0121 248 6849 Halesowen STOURBRIDGE Tel: 024 7663 0555 BIRMINGHAM SOUTH Airport Unit DUDLEY BOURNVILLE LANE Police Public Protection Unit Dudley Probation Unit Halesowen Probation Unit Halesowen Police Station The Inhedge Laurel Lane, Halesowen COVENTRY Laurel Lane The Court House B63 3DA Halesowen Dudley, DY1 1RR Tel: 0121 550 1496 SOLIHULL Little Park Street West Mids Tel: 01384 862424 Stourbridge Probation Unit B63 3JA 44 New Road, Stourbridge Willenhall DY8 1PA Fletchamstead Tel: 01384 440682

SANDWELL Police Public Protection Unit West Bromwich Probation Unit Smethwick Police Station Unity House Piddock Road 14-16 New Street Smethwick West Bromwich Warley B70 7PN B66 3BL Tel: 0121 533 4500

Further information WALSALL West MIdlands Police divides the county into 10 Local Policing Police Public Protection Unit Walsall Probation Unit Units (LPUs), based on existing local communities. Bloxwich Police Station Midland Road Station Street, Bloxwich Walsall, WS1 3QE West Midlands Police Prison Service MAPPA Support Team Staffordshire and West Midlands Youth Offending Teams Across the LPUs there are 10 Public Protection Units (PPUs). Walsall, WS3 2PD Tel: 01922 721341 Probation Trust Chief Constable Public Protection Officer West Midlands Police Birmingham - Tel: 0121 464 0600 Each of these hosts level 2 and level 3 Multi-Agency Public PO Box 52 West Midlands Director of Room 710A Chief Executive Officer Coventry - Tel: 02476 831 414 Protection (MAPP) meetings, chaired by the local DCI Crime WOLVERHAMPTON Lloyd House Offender Management office Lloyd House 1 Victoria Square Dudley - Tel: 01384 813 060 Manager/Public Protection DCI/Probation senior manager. Colmore Circus Queensway All Saints House Colmore Circus Queensway Birmingham Sandwell - Tel: 0121 557 8804 Police Public Protection Unit Wolverhampton Probation Unit Listed opposite are the 10 police PPUs, showing which Birmingham B4 6NQ 280 Lodge Road Birmingham, B4 6NQ B1 1BD Wolverhampton Central Prue Earle House Solihull - Tel: 0121 779 1720 Probation Units cover which MAPP meetings, with relevant Birmingham B18 5BJ Police Station Union Street Tel: 0345 113 5000 Tel: 0121 609 6954 Tel: 0121 248 6666 Walsall - Tel: 01922 714 966 addresses and contact numbers. Bilston Street Horseley Fields [email protected] Tel: 0121 345 2913 Fax: 0121 609 6950 [email protected] Wolverhampton - Tel: 01902 553 722 Wolverhampton Wolverhampton, WV1 3JS For West Midlands police stations www.west-midlands.police.uk Fax: 0121 345 2870 www.swmprobation.gov.uk WV1 3AA Tel: 01902 576000 please ring 0345 113 5000. Keeping communities safe - Victim Support helpline - Tel: 0845 30 30 900 - Managing risk through MAPPA LAY ADVISERS: Jacqui Francis, Martin Burnett Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust is participating in an innovative The data gathered will demonstrate whether mandatory polygraph tests provide The results will be fed back to the Offender Manager immediately after the test in “Sarah’s Law” – pilot to assess polygraph testing (sometimes known as lie-detectors) in the risk Offender Managers with more information on sexual offenders’ thoughts and a three-way meeting between the offender, Offender Manager and polygrapher. management and treatment of sexual offenders. behaviour. Additionally, it will examine whether those sexual offenders subject A written report detailing the outcome of the test is completed by the polygrapher the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme to a polygraphy requirement disclose more information about their behaviour, within five days of the test and sent to the Offender Manager. Joan Scott, head of the Sex Offender Team in the Public Protection and Mental Health attitudes and thinking compared with those sexual offenders who are not subject Group at the National Offender Management Service is leading the project. Professor It is not a breach of the licence to fail the test nor is it permissible for polygraph testing to regular polygraph testing. Don Grubin, from Newcastle University, is responsible for providing the polygraph to be admissible evidence in criminal proceedings in the UK. However, it is a breach of service. It is hoped that the pilot will provide another method to assist in the protection Offender Managers in the pilot areas enact and enforce licence if the offender fails to attend an appointment or if the of vulnerable people, manage the risks sexual offenders pose and to help those the polygraph requirement just as they do with any other offender fails to comply with the polygraph operator or offenders better manage their own behaviour. licence condition. While the offender is in prison the Offender session in any way. Manager identifies whether the offender is eligible for a Where deception is indicated the offender will be informed and invited to comment. This may lead to a disclosure confirming the deception or a continued denial. The Offender Manager should investigate the issues The mandatory polygraph pilot project surrounding the potential risks identified. Where these prove to be founded and a breach of licence confirmed enforcement polygraph requirement. If so, the Offender Manager arranges The use of polygraph tests is, so far, largely unproven in the UK. Ten Probation Areas action can then be taken relating to the specific breach. It is for the condition to be to be included in the Offender’s Sarah’s mother, Victim’s Champion Sara Payne, carried out a previous pilot project in 2003-06. Testing took place on offenders who permissible within the enforcement documentation to explain meeting SWM Probation Chief Executive Officer Mike Maiden. release licence and completes the referral process. Within volunteered to take part and was targeted specifically at those sexual offenders the role of the polygraph in identifying the potential breach three months of their release the offender will attend their attending a groupwork treatment programme. Only 43% of eligible offenders took but being clear that it is not that evidence which has directly first polygraph session. West Midlands Police are empowering members of the public to help part and there was no control group of offenders who were not tested. lead to the enforcement action taking place. protect children from sex offenders thanks to the Child Sex Offender In the week prior to the test the Offender Manager should Probation workers who took part in the first scheme claimed the polygraph tests were The polygraph project has been well utilised across the East Disclosure Scheme, sometimes known as Sarah’s Law after the murder discuss the case with the polygrapher to choose the of eight-year-old Sarah Payne 10 years ago by a convicted sex offender. a helpful tool in their work with sex offenders. They reported that testing led to and West Midlands, with all regions fully participating. questions. These questions must relate specifically to offenders revealing more information, which was crucial in assessing risk, addressing As of 31 March 2010 there had been 331 referrals, of which Under the scheme, a parent, carer, guardian or another interested party the risk management of the offender by focussing on beliefs and behaviour, and keeping partner agencies informed. So although the results Image courtesy of Lafayette Instrument. 138 had been received from Staffordshire and West Midlands can ask the police to check whether someone who has access to their compliance with licence conditions and monitoring of were encouraging the data was not statistically rigorous enough to base policy on. Offender Managers. children has a record of committing child sexual offences. dynamic risk factors with a view to maintaining or improving Under this new pilot, staff can recommend that a condition be included in the release If they are found to have convictions for sexual offences against the way the offender is supervised and managed during their licence period. The mandatory polygraph pilot project is due to run children and pose a risk of causing serious harm to the child or children licence of certain adult sexual offenders requiring them to undertake regular polygraph Newcastle University arranges the tests, formulates the questions and runs the sessions. until March 2012, when a full evaluation will be done concerned, then this information may be disclosed. tests. Such offenders must be aged 18 or over, and have been sentenced to at least 12 The test measures changes in the rates of breathing, sweating, heart activity and blood months in prison for a relevant sexual offence. The facility to conduct the test came by the University of Kent. pressure, which are believed to be related to deception. Around 75 per cent of child sex offenders into affect on 1st April 2009. are related to or known to their victim.

West Midlands Police is one of the early adopters of Sarah’s Law, In June 2009, West Midlands Police Chief Constable Chris Sims meaning parents can now do even more to keep their children safe. MAPPA – a victim’s story The role of the Youth Offending Team announced a major change programme, called Paragon, which The scheme, which was piloted by four police forces between Sep 2008 and Sep last year, is now being extended nationally and includes This case was referred to Probation’s Victim Liaison Unit after the trial of a man Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) have a duty to prevent offending behaviour and went live on 6 April 2010. the West Midlands. jailed for a string of offences including affray, battery and putting people in fear anti-social behaviour and reduce reoffending in people aged 10 to 18 years. The aim of the programme was to make WMP better able to serve the public and The police already disclose information about registered sex offenders of violence. We’ll call him Bob. His case was assessed and it was felt he should be respond to the public’s concerns. They essentially comprise of Local Authority YOT social workers and case managers, and violent offenders in a controlled way to a variety of people, discussed at a MAPPA panel where the risks he presented could be reviewed and education social work and Police Authority staff, probation service, child and The restructure saw the force change from 21 operational units to ten local including head-teachers, leisure centre managers, employers, landlords managed by all MAPPA agencies including Police, Probation, Prison and Social Care. policing units (LPUs), bringing police boundaries in line with other organisations adolescent mental health/ nurses, parenting, anti-social behaviour and substance and parents. The disclosure scheme is an additional tool that the police such as councils, to help promote partnership working. can use to help keep children safe. Bob’s main victim was the young mother of his child. We’ll call her Liz. Although Bob was misuse specialists, as well as Prevention staff and charity workers. in prison, she still lived in fear of him. She was so scared that she refused to meet anyone Threats to a child’s safety are more likely to originate from a family The YOT “screen” all young people using an assessment tool named ASSET. from the authorities because she didn’t want anyone knowing where she lived, in case Bob Paragon and public protection member or a friend of a family than a complete stranger. This assists with the prediction of reoffending and risk of harm to the public and tracked her down. High-profile cases of child abuse, domestic violence and rape have propelled wider Around 75 per cent of child sex offenders are related to or known themselves. It leads to an intervention plan that tackles the relevant risk factors public protection concerns into the limelight. They affect communities’ confidence to their victim. The Child Sex Offender Disclosure Scheme has been So an experienced Victim Liaison officer from Probation went out to meet Liz’s father, who in each young person. Teams provide a service to Courts in terms of pre-sentence in the police to respond to these challenging areas of business. developed to respond to this. had also been a victim of Bob’s crimes. The father told our officer some disturbing things reports, and bail and remand services. YOTs intervene pre-court, within the From the inception of Programme Paragon, the Chief Constable has underlined his that hadn’t come out during the trial – that Bob had been in possession of a gun - that made community and within custody as well as after release. When will information be disclosed? determination to ensure the highest level of service and protection are delivered to her very worried about Liz’s safety. Disclosure will only happen if the police believe there is a need to They engage with Children’s Services in relation to Children in Need and our communities in responding to these serious crimes in the most efficient and ef- Safeguarding, and adhere to PPRC procedures (People who Pose a Risk to Children), fective manner. protect a child and that it is necessary and proportionate. Information She immediately contacted the Police’s Domestic Violence Unit, who had known about the will only be disclosed to the person best placed to protect the child case, but hadn’t been able to meet Liz either because she was too scared. Some victims are Young People who are Sexually Exploited or Missing from Home or Care and also Paragon introduces a new department with corporate ownership for Public Pro- and anyone receiving this information must keep it confidential and worried about contacting the Domestic Violence Unit because it’s part of the police force. engage with those who display sexually harmful behaviour. tection. Headed by Detective Chief Superintendent use it only to protect the child concerned. Gareth Morgan, the department widens the existing YOTs engage with the Serious Case Review agenda under the Safeguarding and The Probation officer managed to gradually build up a relationship with Liz, by talking to her remit of Public Protection Units, taking on responsibili- If there is no information to disclose, this does not necessarily mean Serious Incidents process overseen by the Youth Justice Board (whom YOTs report to). ty for adult and child investigations and safeguarding. there is no risk to the child. frequently on the phone – they never met. Eventually, Liz began to trust her and our officer convinced Liz to let the Police Domestic Violence unit visit her at home. In addition, the YOT engage under the National Offender Management Strategy There are now 10 Public Protection Units working in How can I request information? (NOMS) where risk of re-offending is high or where potential for harm is increasing support of local policing units, each led by a detec- MAPPA meetings were held every week. Officers from the Police, Probation, the Prison Requests for disclosure can be made directly to a police officer, in a young person. tive chief inspector. 450 staff will receive specialist at a police station, or by phone and email. Service and Children’s Services would discuss all aspects of the case and worked closely training to deal with the investigation of child and Level 1 risk management mainly involves the YOT as a multi-agency service provider. Please see http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/contact-us/ together to keep Liz and her child safe. Trigger plans were put in place so that all agencies adult abuse, domestic abuse, rape and serious sexual Where the risk of serious harm is higher then a Level 2, partnership approach is for further details. knew what to do immediately if the risk to Liz escalated. offences and child exploitation. required that involves a wider range of agencies. All requests for information are dealt with by West Midlands Police’s Longer term, it was decided that when Bob had finished his jail sentence, he would stay Public Protection Unit staff will also have a responsibil- Particular avenues exist for the management of those at risk of gang affiliation. Public Protection unit, which has active measures in place to manage in a Probation-run Approved Premises, and that his licence conditions would be very strict. ity for the local co-ordination of missing persons and sex offender management. To facilitate this improved potentially dangerous offenders. For example, he would be put under a very restrictive curfew, and if he was even one minute The MAPPA process assists in setting and monitoring stringent licence conditions service to both LPUs and the public, shift patterns late, that would be judged a breach of his licence and he would be returned to prison. prior to custody release. It produces MAPPA risk management action plans and takes DCI Sean Phillips of the force’s Public Protection Unit said: have been developed to ensure coverage from specialist services according to need, “Inquiries will be treated in confidence and with sensitivity, with the a key role in the recall of young people to custody if they are not complying with Our officer kept in close contact with Liz’s dad, and officers at the prison also shared including increased cover on late shifts, the provision of Specially Trained Officers for overriding aim of keeping children safe.” the requirements. This enforcement also applies to young people in the community rape on duty 24/7, and specialist adult and child on-call Senior Investigating Officers. information about Bob’s behaviour while in jail. when they do not attend appointments or co-operate with the intervention plan. If you think a child is in danger you should always call 999 and raise Recent ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) publications have issues common your concerns immediately. One day when the police Domestic Violence officers were at Liz’s house, a gang of Bob’s Tracey Johnson, Assistant Head of Birmingham Youth Offending Service, says: to most forces which hinder the delivery of public protection - specifically, a lack friends turned up and threatened to break in and attack Liz, her child and the police officers. Parents who are concerned about the safety of their children can go to of resources, a requirement for effective training and a need for senior officers to Straight away the trigger plan kicked in - Liz and her child were spirited away to a safe house “For me, MAPPA is about a structured, multi-agency approach towards risk increase the status, role and functions undertaken within PPUs. any police force to raise their concerns – every force already has a public within the hour. management that assists us to target resources in order to protect the public. protection team to deal with these issues. Through Paragon, West Midlands Police recognises that public protection is impera- It also assists in the process of accountability, whereby action plans are drawn tive and is at the forefront of actively addressing these concerns. For more information about the Child Sex Offender Disclosure Liz and her child are still in a safe location. Bob doesn’t know where she is. She told our up to manage the risks posed by both adults and young people and these are Scheme, go to www.direct.gov.uk/keepingchildrensafe Victim Liaison officer, “I don’t think I would be alive if it wasn’t for you and the team.” subject to regular review.”

6 MAPPA ANNUAL REPORT 2009 - 10 MAPPA ANNUAL REPORT 2009 - 10 7 MAPPA COMMENTARY AND STATS 2009 - 10

The totals of MAPPA eligible offenders, broken down by category, reflects the picture on 31 March 2010, (i.e. a snapshot). The rest of the data covers the period 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010.

MAPPA eligible offenders - there are a number of offenders defined in law as Breach of licence - Offenders released into the community following a period of eligible for MAPPA management, because they have committed specified sexual and imprisonment of 12 months or more will be subject to a licence with conditions violent offences and/or currently pose a risk of serious harm, although the majority (under probation supervision). If these conditions are not complied with, breach (x% this year) are actually managed under ordinary agency (Level 1) arrangements action will be taken and the offender may be recalled to prison. rather than via MAPP meetings. 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 Registered Sexual Offenders (RSOs) - those who are required to notify the police of application on account of the offender’s behaviour in the community. The full order their name, address and other personal details and notify any changes subsequently. lasts for a minimum of 5 years, and can last indefinitely. A SOPO will require the Failure to comply with the notification requirements is a criminal offence which subject to register as a sexual offender and can include conditions, for example carries a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment. 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 Violent Offenders - this category includes violent offenders sentenced to to court and may be liable to up to 5 years’ imprisonment. imprisonment/detention for 12 months or more, or detained under hospital orders. It also includes a small number of sexual offenders who do not qualify for registration Notification Order - requires sexual offenders who have been convicted overseas to register with police, in order to protect the public in the UK from the risks that they and offenders disqualified from working with children. pose. Police may apply to the court for the order in relation to offenders in or Other Offenders - offenders who do not qualify under the other 2 MAPPA eligible intending to come to the UK. categories, but who currently pose a risk of serious harm which requires Foreign Travel Orders - prevent offenders with convictions for sexual offences management via MAPP meetings. against children from traveling abroad where it is necessary to do so to protect children from the risk of sexual harm.

Number of MAPPA eligible offenders at 31 March 2010

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 TOTAL

Category 1: 2022 42 2 2066 Registered Sexual Offenders

Category 2: 1003 88 3 1094 Violent offenders

Category 3: - 5 6 11 Other Dangerous Offenders

Enforcement for offenders managed Total number of registered sexual offenders in via MAPP meetings West Midlands per 100,000 head of population

Returned to custody for breach of licence 90.13 Level 2 57 Please note, this figure has been calculated using Level 3 7 the 2009 Mid-Year Population Estimate published Total 64 by the Office for National Statistics on 24 June 2010, excluding those aged less than ten years of age. Sent to custody for breach of Sexual Offences It is not directly comparable to figures published Prevention Order (SOPO) in previous years.

Level 2 1 Registered Sexual Offenders cautioned or Level 3 0 convicted for breach of notification requirements Total 1 101

Further data on Registered Sexual Offenders Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs): Registered Sexual Offenders in West Midlands districts - see map on page 4-5 for locations: Applied for 2 Interim Order issued 0 LPU (List Below) RSO Full Order issued 51 Birmingham North 126 Birmingham South 242 Notification Orders: Birmingham East 277 Birmingham W & C 238 Applied for 2 Wolverhampton 228 Interim Order issued 0 Walsall 170 Full Order issued 2 Dudley 199 Foreign Travel Orders Sandwell 253 Solihull 105 Applied for 0 Coventry 228 Interim Order issued 0 Full Order issued 0

8 MAPPA ANNUAL REPORT 2009 - 10