ANNUAL REPORT

2006/07 

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2006/07 ANNUAL REPORT 2

Contents
2 3 4 6 Ministerial Introduction Introduction Key Achievements How the MAPPA operate locally

Ministerial Introduction
These are the sixth MAPPA annual reports, and the first with a foreword by the Ministry of Justice. I want, first of all, to underline the Government’s continued commitment to these arrangements. Protecting the public from dangerous offenders is a core aim for the new Department. Just as the effectiveness of MAPPA locally depends on the quality of working relationships, we will work with the Home Office, the Police, and others, to develop the best possible framework within which the MAPPA can operate. On 13 June, the Government published a Review of the Protection of Children from Sex Offenders. This sets out a programme of actions which include developing the use of drug treatment for sex offenders and piloting the use of compulsory polygraph testing as a risk management tool, enhancements to the regime operating at Approved Premises, and also a range of actions impacting directly upon the way the MAPPA work. I want to highlight two of them here. Firstly, research tells us that the arrangements are already used successfully to disclose information about dangerous offenders but we think this can be improved upon. MAPPA agencies will be required to consider disclosure in every case. We will pilot a scheme where parents will be able to register a child-protection interest in a named individual with whom they have a personal relationship and who has regular unsupervised access to their child. If that person has convictions for child sex offences and the child is at risk, there will be a presumption that the offences will be disclosed to the parent. Secondly, as MAPPA has developed over the past 6 years, best practice models have been identified which show that specific roles and approaches are required to ensure it is managed effectively. We are committed to strengthening MAPPA arrangements and ensuring that robust performance management is in place. To achieve this, we intend to introduce new national standards, which will ensure a consistent approach across Areas and we will be making available £1.2million to support Areas in implementing the standards. We aim to do everything that can reasonably be done to protect people from known, dangerous offenders. We know that there is always room for improvement. I commend this annual report to you as an indication of the commitment, skills and achievements of the professionals, and lay advisers, in managing and monitoring this essential, often difficult area of business.
MARIA EAGLE MP

14 Statistical Information 18 Strategic Management Board 20 Business Plan 2007/08
1 MAPPA Development Strategy 2 Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy 3 Communication and Strategic Partnerships Strategy 4 Training Strategy

Back Cover Contacts

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State 

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Introduction
Those concerned with the Gloucestershire Multi-Agency Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) have continued during 2006/07 to build on the already highly effective measures in place to safeguard the public from high-risk offenders.
This year was the sixth year MAPPA has existed and the focus has been on consolidating the advantages offered by the Prison Service becoming a responsible authority alongside the Police and Probation Services and by the statutory duty placed on other agencies to co-operate. The Key Achievements Section of this Report provides some examples of the improvements that have been delivered. This delivery has been underpinned by the combined experience and expertise of the agencies concerned and through the effective prioritisation and co-ordination of their efforts by the Strategic Management Board (SMB) and the local MAPPA meetings. The perspective offered by the Lay Advisor members of the SMB continues to be both helpful and influential. The relationships with other groups responsible for safeguarding the public and bringing offenders to justice, for example the Safeguarding Children and Local Criminal Justice Boards, remain as effective as ever. Evidence of this effectiveness is demonstrated by the fact that only one serious further offence was committed during 2006/07 by an offender under the supervision of the MAPPA, this represents just 0.45% of all cases managed. This record is maintained by the investment all of the agencies concerned make in policing the most serious offenders in the County. A victim focus has been at the heart of a number of recent developments with a strong emphasis on appropriate and proportionate disclosure of information to victims, thereby involving them, where necessary, in determining protective measures and at the same time offering reassurance. Similarly the process by which the risks posed to victims of domestic violence are assessed and addressed has been enhanced not least through the establishment of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARAC) across the County. Informed by the product of a comprehensive risk assessment process, the variety of agencies that come together at the MARAC are able to consider and tailor actions to seek to mitigate the risks that appertain to individual cases. 2006/07 has been yet another demanding but successful year during which much has been achieved to ensure the County of Gloucestershire remains as safe as possible.

Key Achievements
This year’s report details the sixth year of operation of the MAPPA in Gloucestershire and builds on previous reports which can be obtained along with those from other areas on www.probation.justice.gov.uk. The strength of the MAPPA system lies in good inter-agency co-operation where agencies with often different aims and objectives and working practices, come together to focus on the common aim of protecting the community from those offenders who have the potential to cause serious harm. Strategically all relevant agencies are signed up to the MAPPA duty to co-operate arrangements. More agencies are now using MAPPA, and individual practioners in different settings have been trained or briefed on the arrangements. More specialist practitioners receive specific training in risk assessment and the management of sex offenders and violent offenders. The MAPPA Strategic Management Board has responsibility for producing and implementing annually a business plan and in this regard some key pieces of work have been completed during this reporting year. The profile of MAPPA has been raised nationally by specific cases that have come to public attention through the publication of enquiry reports. Locally the Board has ensured that the recommendations from enquiry reports have been communicated, scrutinised and actioned. Likewise recommendations contained within Inspectorate reports on managing sex offenders and violent offenders, and public protection have been progressed. Protecting victims from domestic abuse and holding perpetrators to account was a key theme in 2006/07 and remains so. More domestic abuse perpetrators are now managed within MAPPA. 2007/08 has seen the introduction of Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) and a more rigorous risk assessment process. These conferences focus on the victim(s) of the abuse – usually women and children, involve statutory and voluntary agencies and agree measures that can be put in place to protect them. The national violent and sexual offenders database (ViSOR) provides public protection staff in the county with instant access to information on all sex offenders required to register throughout the UK. This enhances the whole assessment and management process by strengthening the exchange of information between the MAPPA agencies. Communicating how MAPPA operates both locally and nationally is critical. A national MAPPA communication programme has been produced and locally work is ongoing to ensure this is delivered to meet Gloucestershires needs. A new training plan for all agencies involved in MAPPA has been produced and will commence when the revised MAPPA national guidance is published later this year. The implementation of this guidance will form a central piece of work for the business plan of 2007/08.

Y BALL

Chief Officer, Gloucestershire Probation Area

TIMOTHY BRAIN

Chief Constable, Gloucestershire Constabulary

DAVID CHALMERS

Governor HMP, Gloucester 

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REGIONAL PUBLIC PROTECTION INITIATIVES – 2006/7
THE SOUTH REGION PUBLIC PROTECTION PATHFINDER PROJECT With the support of the Police and Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the SW Probation Region was successful in securing money from the centre to set up a Public Protection Pathfinder Project. The Project Manager, Mal Munday, Assistant Chief Officer, was appointed in Oct 2006. The project will run until March 2008. The vision for the project is to ensure that public protection informs all decision making and lies at the heart of all organisational activity. The overall objective is to deliver a step change in improving the quality of public protection practice across the region, aiming to get our practice and processes right on every occasion, ensuring fewer victims and safer communities. All agencies working within Criminal Justice face the challenge of improving public confidence in the system. Government figures indicate that violent crime is decreasing overall, but it is accepted that the public may not perceive this to be the case. The Project has sought to address this perception by promoting consistency between the five MAPPA Areas which make up the SW Region, through case file benchmark exercises, practice audits, and making better links across the Region at a strategic level. A good example of this was the MAPPA Regional Conference held in March 2007 where staff and managers were able to come together to learn more about how to continuously improve practice, systems, and procedures.

The Pathfinder Project intends to deliver on a number of key actions during its lifetime. These include improving offender high risk transfer protocols, providing better training for the Chairs of MAPP Panels, investing in improving the risk management and assessment skills of practitioners involved in MAPPA, promoting regional consistency, and improving public relations profiles. As this report is being prepared, all MAPPA Areas await receipt of new government MAPPA guidelines and the outcome of the Child Sex Offender Review now published, both of which will further strengthen co-operation and effectiveness within the system. These principles are reflected in the Cross Government Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse (April 2007) which represents an important step in targeting and bringing to justice those who commit serious offences, whilst ensuring as much as possible that victims and communities remain protected from the actions of individual offenders. It is for this very purpose that MAPPA exists, and it is encouraging to see the continuous improvements that each MAPPA Area is producing year on year.

How the MAPPA operate locally
a) What is MAPPA?
The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements enable the relevant agencies to share information about offenders to complete an assessment of risk of serious harm, and put together a risk management plan.

e) What is a Risk Management Plan?
This will describe the actions to be taken by local agencies to reduce the likelihood of harm occurring. This will include measures to protect past/potential victims, conditions in licence on release from prison, working with the offender to look at causes of offending and ways to manage behaviour.

b) Which offenders fall within MAPPA?
All sex offenders required to register. Violent offenders who receive a prison sentence of 12 months or more. Other offenders assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm.

f ) How does it work?
Relevant agencies have responsibility for identifying MAPPA offenders. For example the police refer into MAPPA sex offenders required to register and Probation violent offenders who have been to prison. Other agencies that have been, or will be involved are identified and requested to obtain relevant information. Where an offender is assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm a MAPPA meeting is convened. The Relevent Agencies representatives are invited to attend. At the meeting information is shared to inform the risk assessment and a multiagency risk management plan is constructed. A date is set to review and update the risk management plan. Ongoing communication between the agencies involved is critical as circumstances that affect the risk assessment can change quickly. Offenders within MAPPA are managed at either Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3.

c) What agencies are involved in MAPPA?
The Police, Probation and Prison Service are the lead agencies working with Children & Young Persons Directorate, Youth Offending Service, Housing, Job Centre Plus, Health and Group 4S.

d) What is a risk assessment?
By sharing information the assessment will determine who is at risk from the offender? What is the offender likely to do? What could trigger that behaviour? When could it happen? Risk is assessed in terms of the risk to the public, known adults, children, self, other prisoners, staff. 

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g) What are the different levels of management of MAPPA offenders?
Level 1 management is often described as single agency or ordinary risk management. Level 2 management involves a multi-agency meeting on offenders assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm. Offenders who are assessed as posing the very highest risk of serious harm are managed at Level 3 – by the Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPP).

Risk Management in Gloucester Prison
Public protection is a key priority for HMP Gloucester. All offenders entering the establishment are risk assessed using relevant information gathered from a range of contributing agencies. This helps to formulate a comprehensive risk management plan which is aimed at managing risk whilst in custody and to ensure the public are protected following release. The Public Protection Team at HMP Gloucester is based within the Offender Management and Interventions Unit where it operates as an integral part of offender management. The Unit is staffed by probation and prison staff working in partnership to manage risk and reduce re-offending. Gloucester Prison routinely co-ordinates multi-agency meetings within the establishment in order to ensure the formal exchange of information between key agencies. These meetings will also agree an action plan and the interventions needed to manage and reduce risk prior to discharge. Prior to release all relevant agencies concerned with the protection of children and the public are informed of release details and any outstanding risk issues.

Agencies involved in Risk Management

h) What is the Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPP)?
The MAPPP is responsible for the management of those offenders assessed as posing the very highest risk of serious harm. Agencies are represented by senior managers as these offenders often require agencies to commit resources in the interest of public protection over and above their usual agency remit.

Health Service Deliver assessment and treatment which includes mental health services, providing psychiatric treatment which can control behaviour and reduce risk of re-offending both as in-patients and in the community. Children & Young Persons Directorate Are critical in cases where children are identified as being at risk of serious harm and action is required to protect children.

Youth Offending Service Work with young offenders to break patterns of offending and offer constructive alternatives to stop young offenders being adult offenders.

Gloucestershire Domestic Violence Services & Advocacy Project (GDVSAP) Offer information and support to victims of domestic abuse to reduce the likelihood of repeat victimisation.

Probation
Work with the offender to challenge behaviour and increase victim awareness. Programmes are run to reduce violence and sexual offending, attendance at which is required in licence on release from prison or as part of community orders.

Adult Services

Children Service

i) What sort of actions are taken?
The case examples show the type of actions taken in real Gloucestershire cases. Actions need to include both constructive and prohibitive interventions and identify contingency arrangements should the risk management plan break down. For offenders subject to licence on release from prison this could result in an immediate recall back to prison.

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Local Authority Housing Identifies suitable housing options for offenders which reduces the risk of re-offending. Re-houses victims and provide accommodation advice.

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Police Monitoring of offenders behaviour results in immediate enforcement action which can mean a court appearance or return to prison.

Job Centre Plus Are advised of offender history in order that safe employment is obtained which does not place the offender at risk of re-offending.

Victim Liaison Victim enquiry officer and victim support by linking with victims to ensure their views are heard by agencies involved which leads to specific conditions in licences such as not to contact victim, not to enter an exclusion zone.

Registered Social Landlords Provide specialist managed accommodation for offenders which involves support and oversight. 

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Multi Agency Public Protection Panel meeting. Who does what?

HOUSING MANAGER As Housing Manager I provide information on relevant housing legislation and housing options available. I liaise with colleagues across Gloucestershire and information from MAPPA meetings ensures that the relevent offenders are most appropriately placed in order to minimise the risk to the public.

VICTIM ENQUIRY OFFICER The purpose of the VLO is to communicate victims’ thoughts and feelings to the panel. In many cases, victims have suffered serious physical or emotional damage and it can be reassuring for them to know that their views will be represented. In cases where there is an ongoing risk to a specific victim, the VLO is able to contribute to risk assessment and risk management to ensure that consideration is given to the protection of victims in order to reduce the possibility of further harm.

ASSISTANT CHIEF OFFICER PROBATION As Assistant Chief Officer (offender management) for Gloucestershire Probation Area I am responsible for all aspects of offender management. Probation staff with a very wide range of offenders from the point of sentence through to the end of their statutory supervision. The ACO role on the MAPPA panel thus enables Probation to: – Bring an expertise in supervising offenders – Ensure that there is a joined up approach in terms of policies and practice – Ensure that probation resources genuinely follow risk – Liaison with senior colleagues in other areas when transfer out of county is required – Liaison with the Home Office over cases requiring additional funding.

CHAIR I co-ordinate the discussion to determine what is the risk, to who and when. We then identify what agencies, by working together, can do to protect individuals and challenge the offender.

MINUTE TAKER I record the information shared at the meeting and the concerns of the panel and ensure the actions identified for the risk management plan are accurately noted. I ensure the minutes are distributed within 5-7 days.

DET CHIEF INSPECTOR I am the Senior line manager for HQ Public Protection Unit and police representative at the MAPPP. The role includes ensuring that all relevant police information is properly shared with the panel in order to effectively assess and manage the risks posed by the ‘critical few’ in our communities. It also requires advising on possible proactive strategies, committing the necessary police resources when appropriate and ensuring that actions aimed at strengthening the risk management plan are effectively carried out.

APPROVED HOSTEL MANGER I am the Ryecroft Manager and also have middle manager responsibility for offender accommodation in Gloucestershire Probation Area. A number of the offenders who are managed by the MAPPP are considered for Ryecroft or other Approved premises so my membership within the panel is crucial in this respect. I enjoy being involved in the management of Level 3 offenders, and by working to the inter agency model, I believe that the concept is a thorough process that nurtures good working practice and effective levels of public protection. It is ‘What Works’ at its best.

HEAD OF REDUCING RE-OFFENDING AT HMP GLOUCESTER Being based in HMP Gloucester and a MAPPA panel member I am responsible for ensuring that relevent information is available to the panel in respect of all Gloucester prison reviews and where necessary to gather information from across the wider prison estate. I also ensure that any actions attributed to HMP Gloucester, as part of a combined action plan, are completed within the required time frame.

PSYCHIATRIST Advice on risk assessment and management options for offenders who suffer from mental disorder. Providing a psychological perspective on offenders and their offending behaviour. Knowledge of local mental health services and expediting referrals to or communication with those services.

PSYCHOLOGIST Forensic psychology is the science of risk assessment and offending behaviour programme work aimed at reducing and managing risk. That knowledge enables the forensic psychologist to provide the panel with objective assessments of risk and to explain the likely impact of any offending behaviour work individuals have undertaken or might undertake. The forensic psychologist involved in the Gloucestershire MAPPP is also a prison psychologist and is able to provide information on the prison system and prison procedures.

CHILDREN & YOUNG PERSONS DIRECTORATE As a Head of Service and Lead for Child Protection in the Children and Young People’s Directorate (CYPD) I sit on the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel and the Strategic Management Board. When I attend MAPPP I share information about offenders known to CYPD but I contribute to all of the cases being discussed by looking at each one from a child protection point of view. This is what MAPPA is about – sharing information and pooling expertise – in order to formulate a jointly owned multi-agency public protection risk management plan. 

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Case Example 1:
The Male Offender
The male offender was referred to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel (Level 3) by the police. Agencies represented at the meeting included Police, Probation, Prison, Housing, Children & Young Persons Directorate, a Psychologist and Psychiatrist, Domestic Violence Project. Both senior managers and operational staff were present. Background k Recent charge of serious assault on partner not proceeded with in court k Had been on court bail out of Gloucestershire, returned to the family home k 3 young children living within the home who had witnessed violence k 1 child had previously been physically assaulted by the offender k Partner pregnant k Previous convictions for assaults on current partners which had resulted in prison sentences k Previously been subject to supervision by the probation service k History of alcohol misuse k History of self harm and suicide attempts k Threats previously made to agency staff involved. Risk Assessment k Assessed as posing a very high risk of physical and psychological harm to partner k Assessed as posing a very high risk of physical and psychological harm to the children k High risk of harm to himself k High risk of harm to staff. Risk Management Plan k Child Protection Case Conference convened k Children placed in a place of safety k Police Domestic Abuse officers maintained ongoing contact with the partner k Information provided to offender with regard to alternative accommodation k Contact with offender’s GP to request psychiatric Services intervention k Information provided to offender with regard to access to services for alcohol misuse k Information gathered to assist further prosecution. Outcome k Children’s names were placed on Child Protection Register k Core group of professions identified to work with children and mother k Legal action commenced to protect children k Offender and partner separate k Ongoing support to partner from domestic abuse partner agencies k Offender moves to alternative accommodation k Offender receives psychiatric intervention. Current Position k Children legally protected k Offender not charged with any further offence against partner or children.

Case Example 2
The Young Male Offender (18 years)
The young male offender was referred to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel by the Probation Service. Agencies represented at the meeting included Probation, Police, Prison, Children & Young Persons Directorate, Youth Offending Service, Learning Disability Services, Mental Health, Accommodation Providers. Both senior managers and operational staff were present. Background k Convicted of offences of harassment of adult females k Targeted victims k Previous similar convictions as a juvenile k Subject to supervision by the Probation Service k As a young person had been assessed as having a learning difficulty k As an adult did not meet criteria for learning disability k Specialist supervised accommodation provided as a young person which was no longer available as an adult k Remanded in custody prior to sentence – potentially homeless on release k Violent incident in previous accommodation involving staff k Some self harm issues in custody. Risk Assessment k Assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm to females k High risk of serious harm to children k Medium risk of serious harm to staff – especially female staff k Medium risk of serious harm to self. Risk Management Plan k Mental Health Services to be approached to provide further assessment k Learning Disability team to be approached to re-engage k Supervised accommodation to be sought k Referral to Forensic Psychologist k Community Order to be returned to Court for additional requirements k Children and Young Persons Directorate (formerly Social Services) to undertake risk assessment of younger family members k Police to ensure Crown Prosecution Service are aware k Referral to Connexions. Outcome k Mental Health Services agree to fund specialist assessment k Learning Disability Team re-engage k Support provided by mental health project k Supervised accommodation obtained k Assessed by forensic psychologist k Additional conditions attached to Community Order k A failure to comply to additional requirements resulted in swift return to court and enforcement action taken k Connexions team obtained employment opportunities. Current Position k A further offence of harassment of adult female resulted in short custodial sentence and imposition of restraining order. Mental Health Services specialist assessments led to funding being agreed for specialist residential unit meeting his particular needs and offending profile. 

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Examples of level 2 cases where disclosure has taken place
k Offender with history of violence to female partners – New partner advised of offending history in order to protect her. k Offender with history of sexual offending against young boys – Contract drawn up with local church regarding rules around service attendance in order to protect children. k Offender with history of sexual offending against adult females – Charity where he was working was advised of history and employment terminated in order to protect public. k Offender with history of sexual offending against young boys – Headteacher of school adjacent to his property advised in order to protect children. k Offender with history of serious violence to staff – Voluntary project attended advised in order to protect staff.

Statistical Information
The following statistical information details MAPPA activity within Gloucestershire for the reporting period 1st April 2006 - 31st March 2007 Category 1 (Sex Offenders required to register) 1 The number of Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) living in Gloucestershire on 31 March 2007: Cheltenham & Tewkesbury Stroud & Cotswolds Gloucester & Forest a The number of RSOs per 100,000 head of population. 104 76 131 (311) 55

Sex Offender Prevention Orders
2 There are now 63 offenders subject to Sex Offender Prevention Orders in Gloucestershire. These Orders are a powerful means of managing sex offenders in the community and reducing the risk of harm they pose, primarily to children. Orders contain prohibitions stating what a sex offender must not do. Examples of prohibitions include: Accommodation Not to live in any household with a child or young person under the age of 17 years. Activities Not to undertake any activity (paid, voluntary or recreational) which by its nature is likely to bring him/ her into contact with children under the age of 17 years. Employment Not to engage in any work employment or other activity with a child or young person under the age of 17 years, either on a professional or voluntary basis. Children Not to be in the company of children under the age of 17 years unless both the defendant and the child or children are both within the line of sight and range of hearing of the child or children’s parents or legal guardians. Vehicles Not to allow children under the age of 17 years to be carried in a motor vehicle unless the child’s parent/legal guardian is present. Computers Not to engage with another person through chat rooms or other internet sites designed to introduce people to one another. Schools Not to loiter within a radius of 100 metres of education establishments including infant, junior and secondary schools and public parks, children’s playgrounds and public swimming pools. The number of sex offenders having a registration requirement who were either cautioned or convicted for breaches of the requirement, between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007. The number of a Sexual Offences Prevention Orders (SOPOs) applied for. b Interim SOPOs granted. c Full SOPOs imposed by the courts in Gloucestershire between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007. 4 The number of a Notification Orders applied for. b Interim Notification Orders granted. c Full Notification Orders imposed by the courts in your Area between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007. 5 The number of Foreign Travel Orders a Applied for. b Imposed by the courts in your Area between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007. 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 23 8

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1 Category 1 (Sex Offenders required to register) i Since the introduction of sex offender registration requirement in 1997 the number of registered sex offenders has grown year on year nationally. In Gloucestershire this year, the number has remained the same as 2005/06 311 This is a different group of offenders – some no longer having a registration requirement – some newly required to register offenders. In total there were 88 newly required to register sex offenders in Gloucestershire. Sex offenders who receive a custodial sentence of 30 months or more are required to register for life, less than 30 months registration for 10 years, and registration for 5 years for community order. i a The number of registered sex offenders per 100,000 head of the population is 55. This figure is consistent with the national picture. 8 offenders this year have been either cautioned or convicted for breaching their registration requirement. Registration requirements include registering any change of address within 3 days and notifying and giving details if travelling abroad for more than 3 days. This small percentage – 2.57%, reflects the monitoring arrangements that are in place to reduce the likelihood of failure to comply.

3

Category 3 (Other offenders assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm)

vii The number of ‘other’ offenders (OthO) (as defined by Section 325 (2)(b) of the Criminal Justice Act (2003) between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007. Statistics explained 33 offenders have been assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm that do not fall into Category 1 or Category 2. This number includes referrals into MAPPA by agencies other than police and probation and reflects the focus within Gloucestershire on Domestic Abuse. More rigorous assessment of domestic abuse perpetrators and the introduction of specialist Domestic Violence courts has resulted in more offenders being convicted and sentenced to Community Orders or custodial sentences for domestic abuse offences.

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4

ii

Offenders managed through Level 3 (MAPPP) and Level 2 (Local inter-agency management) in each of the three Categories between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007. Level 3 viii 1 Category 1 - Sex Offenders required to register. 9 2 Category 2 - Violent offenders sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 12 months or more and sex offenders not required to register. 3 Category 3 - Other Offenders assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm. 3 7 Level 2 101 74 26

iii Gloucestershire continues to make valuable use of Sex Offender Prevention Orders (SOPOs) with good co-operation between the Crown Prosecution Service and MAPPA agencies in identifying who should be subject to such orders and what prohibitions should be included. SOPOs can be imposed at point of sentence or following application by the police. iv/v Like other areas Gloucestershire has not found it necessary to apply for Notification or Foreign Travel Orders this reporting year.

Category 1 - Registered Sex Offenders.

Category 2 - Violent offenders sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 12 months or more and sex offenders not required to register. Category 3 - Other Offenders assessed as posing a high risk of harm. ix Of the cases managed at Level 3 or 2 between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007 how many, whilst managed at that level:a Were returned to custody for a breach of licence. b Were returned to custody for a breach of a restraining order or sexual offences prevention order. c Were charged with a serious sexual or violent offence.

Level 3 1 0 0

Level 2 7 1 1

2

Category 2 (Violent offenders sentenced to a period of imprisonment of 12 months or more and sex offenders not required to register)

vi The number of violent and other (V&O) sexual offenders (as defined by Section 327 (3), (4) and (5) of the Criminal Justice Act (2003) living in your Area between 1st April 2006 and 31st March 2007.

100

Statistics explained 100 offenders who have committed offences of violence (and other sexual offences) resided in Gloucestershire this reporting year. 

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Statistics explained Level 3 Offenders assessed as posing a very high risk of serious harm who require management that involves close collaboration at a Senior Level or who require unusual resources commitment are managed at this level. 19 offenders have been managed at this level this year, 11 of the offenders were MAPPP registered cases in previous years and continue to be overseen by the panel. This number remains consistent but again shows an increase in Cat 3 offenders. Level 2 Offenders managed at Level 2 are assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm and require inter agency assessment and management. Within Gloucestershire colleagues from Police, Probation and Children & Young Persons Directorate meet weekly to assess offenders and review risk management plans. When an offender is in custody a meeting occurs prior to release to ensure a risk management plan is in place and victims views included and advised accordingly. The Prison Service plays a significant role in identifying relevant offenders and contributing to risk assessment and management plans. Any failure to comply with licence conditions, or escalating risk of harm is dealt with immediately. Emergency recalls to prison can occur on the same day with a warrant for the offender’s arrest being issued. There is close liaison between the Probation, Police and Prison Services at this point. One sex offender required to register receive a custodial sentence this year for breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order. No offender managed at Level 3 (MAPPP) has been charged with a serious sexual or violent offence. At Level 2, one offender has been charged with serious sexual or violent offence. It is not possible entirely to remove the potential for offenders to commit a serious further offence, and this year we have had 1 serious further offence. Whilst any serious further offence means personal tragedy for people in our community, this year’s figures ( representing 0.45% of the total of those managed at MAPPA levels 2 and 3) suggest that the MAPPA is generally succeeding in managing those offenders who pose the greatest threat to society. All cases of serious further offending are rigorously reviewed with learning points being addressed by the agencies involved.

Strategic Management Board
The Strategic Management Board has the responsibility for overseeing the Public Protection Arrangements within Gloucestershire.

The Board members are:Chief Officer Gloucestershire Probation Area Assistant Chief Constable Gloucestershire Constabulary Detective Chief Superintendent Gloucestershire Constabulary Assistant Chief Officer Gloucestershire Probation Area Governor of HMP Gloucester Two Lay Advisors Lead for Child Protection Children and Young Peoples Social Services Directorate Social Care Lead, Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust Victim Support Area Manager Head of Youth Offending Service, Gloucester Executive Manager, Housing Gloucester City Council

The Strategic Management Board (SMB) has continued to meet quarterly, chaired this reporting year by the Chief Officer of Probation. The function of the SMB is to provide leadership for MAPPA, consider strategic issues, develop and agree local policies and evaluate performance. The local processes have to fit with national guidelines and respond to national developments and initiatives. Critical is learning nationally from cases where MAPPA offenders have committed serious further offences. The presence of the Victim Support Manager on the SMB ensures that an awareness of victim issues and MAPPA responsibility to victims is monitored. Formal links are in place with other key forums with representatives from the SMB on the area’s Safeguarding Children’s Board, Criminal Justice Board, Gloucestershire Safer Stronger Community Partnership and Crime and Disorder Partnerships. This ensures that MAPPA are incorporated into their business plans and activities and the right links are made to strengthen public protection arrangements within Gloucestershire. 

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Gloucestershire Strategic Management Board – Business Plan 2007/08
Lay Advisors There are 2 Lay Advisors on the MAPPA SMB who provide an independent view on the operation of MAPPA “As MAPPA Lay Advisors we have been trained to understand current provision for public protection. This has included weekend training and visits to prison, Youth Offending Service, Police Headquarters and Probation. With this knowledge we are in a position to reflect what ordinary members of the community in Gloucestershire think about provisions made for our safety. In the coming year we will be working on a Communications Strategy which will hopefully result in better information for the people of Gloucestershire and better systems for people to express their views. Our work is varied and interesting and I have been consistently impressed with the dedication of the police, probation and prison officers to minimising risk in Gloucestershire in the 2 years that I have been a Lay Advisor.” The MAPPA SMB receives reports on offenders subject to the MAPPA at both Level 2 and 3. Cases are brought to the SMB when influence from members can enhance the risk management process. It is important that any lessons learnt are disseminated within MAPPA agencies. Representatives from the SMB attend regional and national MAPPA events. This ensure linkage between local/national MAPPA practice, collaboration and learning from best Public Protection Practice.

Glossary
MAPPA Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements MAPPP Multi-Agency Public Protection Panel SMB Strategic Management Board SOPO Sex Offender Prevention Order GPA Gloucestershire Probation Area CPS Crown Prosecution Service ACC Assistant Chief Constable Contact details for all Victim Support local offices are shown below. Cheltenham 01242 577476 Cotswold 01285 658350 Forest of Dean 01594 810190 Gloucester 01452 506450 Stroud 01453 751488 Tewkesbury 01684 850448 Crown Court Witness Service 01452 411724 Mags. Court Witness Service 01452 525281 Glos. Domestic Violence Support and Advocacy Project (GDVSAP) 01452 500115

1. MAPPA Development Strategy
STRATEGIC AIM AND OBJECTIVES A To implement the revised MAPPA Guidance. DELIVERY PLAN Complete gap analysis and implementation plan. MILESTONES Within 2 months of receipt of guidance. RESOURCE MAPPA Manager & relevant Senior officers. OUTCOME • Revised guidance implementation date to be agreed on receipt. • New guidance issued. • Leaflets / information produced.

B To implement MAPPA relevent recommendations from: i) Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) Public protection ii) Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prison (HMIP) Public Protection Inspection iii) Youth Offending Service Inspection iv) Offender Management Inspection v) Joint Area Review – Childrens Services & Young People

Complete gap analysis and implementation plan in relation to MAPPA recommendations.

Within 2 months of receipt of individual reports.

MAPPA Manager and relevant senior officers.

Recommendations implemented in order to improve the effectiveness of Public Protection Arrangements within Gloucestershire.

C ViSOR system to be installed as required

Local project plan to be produced when revised implementation guidance received.

Within 2 months of receipt.

MAPPA Manager. Information unit, Senior Support Manager, Police ViSOR implementation team time.

ViSOR populated for MAPPA Level 2 & 3 cases ensuring effective co-ordination and management of MAPPA offenders.

D To complete review of Public protection delivery within Gloucestershire Constabulary.

• Individuals identified to conduct review. • Establish reporting board. • Produce review document.

• April 2007. • April 2007. • April 2007.

• Ass Chief Constable. • Det. Chief Superintendent. • Det Inspector.

To have identified and implemented structure that ensures the most effective delivery of Public Protection. 

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Gloucestershire Strategic Management Board – Business Plan 2006/07 1. MAPPA Development Strategy continued
STRATEGIC AIM AND OBJECTIVES E To ensure effective working links between Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) /Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)/Adults at risk procedures and safeguarding children procedures to ensure quality risk assessment and risk management plans. DELIVERY PLAN To identify representatives from relevant agencies to produce proposals for co-ordinating practice and identifying improvement measures. MILESTONES June 2007. RESOURCE Relevant staff time. OUTCOME Improved practice with regard to protection of victims and potential victims.

Gloucestershire Strategic Management Board – Business Plan 2006/07 2. Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy
STRATEGIC AIM AND OBJECTIVES A • To undertake audit of Cat 1 offenders jointly managed by police and probation service. • To have identified findings from regional benchmarking Level 2/3 events and to undertake local audit utilizing findings from above. • Undertake audit of Domestic Abuse cases to ensure consistency in assessment. DELIVERY PLAN Identify appropriate assessors in relevent agencies. MILESTONES • Sept 2007. RESOURCE Assessor time. OUTCOME • Improved co-ordination.

• June 2007.

• Appropriate MAPPA Level.

• July 2007.

• More consistent assessments.

F To review the arrangements with regard to Youth Offending Service offenders who fall within MAPPA.

• Meeting with Head of Service. • Attendance at YOS Management meeting. • Arrangements agreed Sept 07.

• June 2007.

Staff time / YOS / MAPPA Manager.

• July 2007.

Appropriate referrals into MAPPA. YOS representation at MAPPA Level 2/3 meetings.

• September 2007.

B Implement MAPPA Level 3 serious further offence procedures.

On receipt of procedures produce implementation plan.

G To implement SW regional Public Protection Strategy within Gloucestershire.

• Regional ACO Public Protection to attend MAPPA SMB to present draft strategy. • Strategy agreed Implementation Plan formulated.

May 2007.

Regional and local MAPPA teams.

Regional collaboration in the management of MAPPA offenders to agreed standards.

3. Communication and Strategic Partnerships Strategy
STRATEGIC AIM AND OBJECTIVES A To develop a local plan to implement National communication Strategy. DELIVERY PLAN • Identify working group. • Agree local strategy. • Produce implementation plan. MILESTONES • May 2007. • November 2007. RESOURCE Staff time. OUTCOME Improve public confidence in MAPPA.

H To achieve sign of and delivery of Protocol for accommodating MAPPA offenders.

Completion of Accommodation Protocol Ensure linkage with: • Housing Needs Surveyors • Housing strategies • Homelessness strategies • Choice Based Lettings System Supporting People strategy

• October 2007. • Ongoing. Linked to the individual strategy time scales.

Probation and Gloucester City Council supported by other housing providers.

• Improved facilities and systems for accommodating MAPPA offenders. • Locating suitable accommodation should become easier.

4. Training Strategy
STRATEGIC AIM AND OBJECTIVES A To implement training strategy with responsible authority and duty to co-operate agencies. DELIVERY PLAN • Meeting to agree training proposal. • Training proposal to SMB. • Strategy agreed. • Strategy implemented. MILESTONES • July 2007. RESOURCE Trainers to be identified within agencies. Cost of materials. OUTCOME Awareness and knowledge of MAPPA raised in duty to co-operate and responsible authority agencies, resulting in appropriate referrals, thorough risk assessments and robust risk management plans.

• August 2007. • November 2007. • February 2008. 

Contacts
This report provides details of the arrangements made in Gloucestershire. If you would like to make additional enquiries please contact either: Chief Constable Gloucestershire Constabulary County Police Headquarters, Waterwells Drive, Quedgeley, Gloucester GL2 2AN Tel: 0845 0901234 Chief Officer Gloucestershire Probation Area Bewick House, 1 Denmark Road, Gloucester GL1 3HW Tel: 01452 389200