Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements
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MAPPA Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements Annual Report 2010 – 2011 City of Edinburgh East Lothian West Lothian Midlothian The Scottish Borders Contents 1/ Foreword 2/ MAPPA in Lothian and Borders 3/ Achievements 7/ Future goals 9/ Statistical information Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements Foreword The Management of Offenders etc (Scotland) Act 2005 introduced statutory functions for Responsible Authorities – Local Authorities, Scottish Prison Service, Police and Health Service – to establish joint arrangements for the assessment and management of the risk of harm posed by certain offenders. Our Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Annual Report provides an opportunity to present evidence of the successful work undertaken by MAPPA in Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders by the Responsible Authorities and partner agencies with a duty to co-operate. We know from experience that managing risk can be highly complex, with staff having to make difficult decisions on a daily basis. We also know that sharing information, building a clear picture of the risk an individual offender presents and directing resources in the best possible way lessens the likelihood of re offending. Our Annual Report shows that the most serious offenders managed through MAPPA have been supervised effectively thereby preventing them re-offending and causing further harm. In addition, compliance has been high, with those who have not fully complied with notification requirements or statutory conditions returned to court or prison minimising the risk of further serious offences. Complacency is the enemy of safety. Effective risk management requires ongoing monitoring, review and evaluation. While no system, however robust, can guarantee an offender will never go on to re-offend, I believe our commitment to continual development strengthens public protection arrangements across Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders. Assistant Chief Constable Iain Livingstone Vice Chair Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Strategic Management Group. Acknowledgements Prior to publication of our annual report, Mr David Hume retired from his position as Chief Executive, Scottish Borders Council. In addition, David was the Chair of Edinburgh, Lothian and Borders Executive Group (ELBEG) and ELBEG Strategic Management Group. We would like to acknowledge the significant contribution he made, not only to MAPPA, but all areas of public protection and wish him all the very best for the future. During the reporting year, Mr Rob Strachan was appointed as Chief Officer, Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority (CJA). The CJA is a key partner that fully supports and contributes to the public protection agenda and we look forward to continued collaborative working with Rob and his team. Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements 1/ MAPPA in Lothian and Borders Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) provide a framework to manage the risk posed by Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) and Restricted Patients (mainly violent offenders with a small number of sex offenders). MAPPA brings together professionals from the police, local authorities, health and the Scottish Prison Service in Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders, known as Responsible Authorities. These arrangements are co-ordinated by a central unit, while the practical management of offenders remains the responsibility of the Responsible Authorities at local level. MAPPA manages three levels of offenders, with those of the highest risk or management complexity graded at Level 3. This year, for the fourth year in a row, there were no cases of Level 3 RSOs being convicted of a further crime of sexual harm or non-sexual violence. Of the Level 2 cases, one RSO was reconvicted under these criteria. During the reporting year: ● 726 RSOs were managed under MAPPA. ● 96% of RSOs complied with their statutory notification requirements, and ● of the 4% who failed to comply, all were formally reported for breach of requirements. Over the past year there have been 61 MAPPA Level 2 and 3 meetings convened across Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders. MAPPA in Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders benefits from its unique access to a number of different services: NHS Lothian’s Sex Offender Liaison Service (SOLS) provides psychological and psychiatric consultation, assessment and management advice to help Criminal Justice Social Work (CJSW), police offender management units and other agencies to manage challenging sex offenders with personality disorders and/or entrenched sexual deviance. The key to the success of SOLS is its integration with CJSW and Lothian and Borders Police. Our model matches that currently proposed in England and Wales by the Ministry of Justice and Department of Health. Community Intervention Services for Sex Offenders (CISSO) continue to support the risk management work undertaken by the Responsible Authorities through the preparation of detailed Criminal Justice Social Work Reports (CJSWR) for the court prior to sentencing of convicted sex offenders. In addition, CISSO undertake community based treatment programmes with RSOs, which challenge behaviour and attitudes supportive of sexual offending and consider relapse prevention strategies. During the reporting year CISSO prepared 77 reports, were consulted regarding a further 59, and engaged 57 RSOs in the Community Sex Offender Group work Programme (CSOGP). Further Information about MAPPA can be found on the Scottish Government website: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/public-safety/offender- management/offender/protection 2/ Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements Achievements in Developing Practice Developments in MAPPA have focussed on strategy, training, monitoring/evaluation and most importantly, communication. Strategic Development Strategic Management Group Lothian and Borders Local Strategic Management Group, established in 2010, offers oversight, direction and support to improve risk management practice. The group has a responsibility for public protection, which makes it different from similar groups in other areas of Scotland. It straddles adult at risk protection and child protection as well as MAPPA, rather than addressing offender management separately. NHS Lothian Sex Offender Liaison Service (SOLS) Having developed and established SOLS since the introduction of MAPPA in 2007, and with increasing demand for consultation and assessment, the key aim for the reporting year was to maintain capacity of the service to meet demand, and additionally to further develop involvement in multi-agency work with high risk offenders. The SOLS psychologist and psychiatrist, along with CJSW colleagues, examined the treatment needs of high risk RSOs with personality disorders, and potential ways to address these needs. Further work in this area will follow the outcome of the current national review and redesign of sex offender programmes both in custodial and community settings. SOLS undertook 27 case discussions and commenced or completed 29 full assessments during the reporting year. Reviewing Indefinite Registration of Registered Sex Offenders Offenders subject to indefinite registration are now required, under new legislation, to have their registration reviewed after a defined period. The purpose of the review is to establish whether a relevant offender continues (on the balance of probabilities) to present a risk of serious sexual harm, which therefore merits continued registration. A process was developed and implemented across Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders where the continued presence of such risk is assessed at MAPPA meetings, making it possible for informed decisions to be reached. This process has already begun for RSOs aged under 18 years at time of conviction, resulting in two offenders being de-registered, with preparations underway to begin the review of all indefinitely registered sex offenders from 2012. This process allows all agencies to focus their resources on those offenders who continue to present a risk of serious harm. Edinburgh, Lothian and the Borders Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements 3/ Training Development Training in effective intervention with sex offenders In June 2010, an all day training event was held for staff involved in MAPPA. This event promoted the latest findings from research on Internet offending and also developments in working with sex offenders, namely the ‘Good Lives Model.’ Dr Katherine Russell (Consultant Clinical Psychologist, NHS Lothian) presented the Good Lives Model input, which advocates that positive/achievement goals are more motivational and attractive than negative risk avoidance goals. Training of Panel Chairs In October 2010, a training event was held for the chairs of MAPPA meetings. This event was aimed at fostering rigorous chairing which would achieve the most balanced and accountable decision-making in relation to the management of offenders within MAPPA. Feedback from the training was very positive. The training has enhanced my understanding and awareness of the issues which need to be considered, and given me the confidence to ensure these are addressed when Chairing MAPPA meetings’ Detective Inspector ELBEG 2010 Conference In early spring 2010, a very successful ELBEG conference was held, the theme being ‘Sharing Information in Public Protection – A Gateway not a Barrier’. ELBEG were delighted that Sir Michael Bichard,