Lincolnshire

MAPPA Annual Report 2002 

Contacts
Lincolnshire Probation Area Job Title : Chief Officer Address National Prob Service : Lincolnshire 7 Lindum Terrace Lincoln LN2 5RP Phone 01522 520776

Job Title : Multi Agency Public Protection Panel Manager

Lincs Police Headquarters Nettleham Lincoln LN5 7PH

01522 558668

Job Title Assistant Chief Officer (Public Protection)

National Prob Service : Lincolnshire 7 Lindum Terrace Lincoln LN2 5RP

01522 520776

Lincolnshire Police Job Title Chief Constable

Address Lincs Police Headquarters Nettleham Lincoln LN5 7PH

Phone 01522 532222

Job Title Assistant Chief Constable

(As above)

(As above)

Job Title Detective Chief Inspector Crime Support Headquarters Email address enquiries@lincs.police.uk

(As above)

(As above) 

1. Introduction

1.1

Statutory agencies within Lincolnshire have a strong history of collaborative working arrangements which have focussed upon the protection of the public from dangerous offenders. In January 1997 formal arrangements were made operational between Lincolnshire Police and the Probation Service in Lincolnshire to hold structured meetings in relation to dangerous individuals. Both agencies work within three co-terminus operational divisions; South, East and West. These meetings were held divisionally and their purpose was defined in the following statement of intent: “Lincolnshire Probation Service and Lincolnshire Police will work together to establish local panels with the aim of managing the risk … offenders pose of serious harm to the public. They will seek to involve other agencies who may have a contribution to make in reducing the risk of further offences being committed.” Local meetings made a significant impact upon the abilities of the police and probation service to assess individuals and manage the risks posed by them. The meetings were successful in involving representation from other agencies where this was appropriate. There was a strong commitment from the Police and Probation Service in Lincolnshire to build upon the success achieved by the local panels.

1.2

In March 1999 the Lincolnshire Multi Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPP) was established. The project is a formal partnership between the following agencies in Lincolnshire: • Police • Probation • Health • Social Services • Education • Housing Authorities. 

The establishment of the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel acknowledged that risk of harm to the public is not restricted to offenders who are subject to supervision by the Probation Service or involvement of the Police. The recognition and management of that risk is a multi agency responsibility. On that basis it was decided that the agencies listed above would work together to identify people, including children and young people, who are considered to be dangerous in accordance with criteria which were defined. The establishment of a Multi Agency Public Protection Panel aimed to manage the risk of serious harm those individuals represented to the public in general and to children and vulnerable adults in particular. It was the stated intention of the approach to concentrate on those individuals who pose a major risk to public safety. 1.3 Consequently Lincolnshire has the benefit of a tiered approach to the assessment and management of dangerous offenders. • • Routine information is released from custody shared about prisoners

Locally operated Divisional Risk Meetings are held in respect of the majority of offenders assessed as posing a risk to the community. For the critical few cases that pose the most serious risk of causing harm the Area Multi Agency Public Protection Panel takes responsibility for the assessment and management of risk.

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2. Summary of Roles and Responsibilities
2.1 Lincolnshire Police The protection of life and property is a fundamental aim and purpose of the Police Service. Lincolnshire Police are committed to improving the quality of life in the county and making the community safer by targeting and reducing crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in partnership with local authorities and other agencies. This includes identifying dangerous and high risk offenders, sharing information with other agencies and taking joint decisions as to any subsequent actions. The Sex Offender Act 1997 places a responsibility on the Police Service to work with other agencies in carrying out risk assessments in relation to offenders required to comply with the Act and managed that risk on a multi agency basis. Police Officers participate in all Divisional Risk Meetings in relation to dangerous offenders. Staff with involvement with the most serious dangerous offenders attend relevant area Multi Agency Public Protection Panels. A senior manager acts as a core panel member at all meetings of the area Multi Agency Public Protection Panel. 2.2 Lincolnshire Social Services The Social Services Directorate has a wide range of duties and responsibilities to provide services for individuals and families. The services the Directorate provide encompass people of all agencies, abilities and social groupings. They include services to some of the most vulnerable groups in society, including children in need and their families, older people, disabled people and their carers and the mentally disordered, both in their homes and communities and by the provision of day care and care away from home. It is the range of responsibilities for vulnerable people which is at the heart of the Directorate’s role in public protection. The staff of the Social Services Directorate participate in relevant Divisional Risk Meetings in relation to dangerous offenders. Staff with involvement with the most serious dangerous offenders attend relevant area Multi Agency Public Protection Panels. A senior manager acts as a core panel member at all meetings of the area Multi Agency Public Protection Panel. 2.3 Lincolnshire Education and Cultural Services Education and Cultural Services form an integral part of the child protection network alongside other agencies which make up the Area Child Protection Committee. It plays a significant role through schools, Youth Services and the Education Welfare Service in not only child protection but also crime prevention and education for citizenship and against substance misuse. The staff of the Education and Cultural Services are responsible for convening and participating in all Divisional Risk Meetings in relation to dangerous offenders. Staff who may have direct involvement with the most serious dangerous offenders attend relevant area Multi Agency Public Protection Panels. A senior manager acts as a core panel member at all meetings of the area Multi Agency Public Protection Panel. 2.4 Lincolnshire Health Lincolnshire Health Services are committed to providing effective support and services within the community where appropriate. Assessment and risk management procedures will continue to be developed in conjunction with other relevant agencies in order to provide a coordinated approach to this issue. Health staff participate in relevant Divisional Risk Meetings in relation to dangerous offenders. Staff with involvement with the most serious dangerous offenders attend relevant area Multi Agency Public Protection Panels A senior manager acts as a core panel member at all meetings of the area Multi Agency Public Protection Panel.

2.5

Lincolnshire Housing Authorities The Housing Act 1996 changed the legal framework for the allocation of social housing in England and Wales. Allocations from the waiting list or housing register are covered in Part VI of the Act and the responsibilities of local authorities towards homeless people are contained in Part VII. 

Lincolnshire Housing Authorities are committed to ensuring offenders rehousing needs are assessed with other agencies including the police, probation and social services to identify the risk particular groups of people pose to the community. Enforcing the tenancy agreement and combating anti-social behaviour on housing estates is also a fundamental aim of the Housing Authorities to improve the quality of life and make the communities a safer place to live. This can only be done in partnership with other agencies and includes the sharing of information and making joint decisions on proposed action in relation to dangerous and high risk offenders. The staff of Housing Authorities participate in relevant Divisional Risk

Meetings in relation to dangerous offenders. A senior manager acts as a core panel member at all meetings of the area Multi Agency Public Protection Panel.

2.6

National Probation Service Lincolnshire Lincolnshire Probation Service became a part of the newly formed National Probation Service on 1 April 2001. The National Probation Service (NPS) is a law enforcement agency delivering community punishments, supervising and working with offenders within the terms set by the Court or Parole Board in ways that help offenders to reduce their re-offending and better protects the public. The National Probation Service, Lincolnshire works in a highly collaborative way with police and prison colleagues, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service,

courts, local authorities, health education, housing and a wide range of independent and voluntary sector partners. The NPS Lincolnshire discharge statutory responsibilities towards the victims of the most serious violent, including sexually violent, crimes. The staff of NPS Lincolnshire are responsible for convening and participating in all Divisional Risk Meetings in relation to dangerous offenders. Staff with responsibility for the supervision of a the most serious dangerous offenders attend relevant area Multi Agency Public Protection Panels. A senior manager acts as a core panel member at all meetings of the area Multi Agency Public Protection Panel.

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3. Outline of Arrangements Made
3.1 Certain routine information is shared in relation to those individuals who are likely to pose a risk to the community. For example; • Channels of communication exist in relation to all offenders released from custody who are categorised within schedule 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 as posing a potential risk to children and young people. • The National Probation Service Lincolnshire notifies Lincolnshire Police of all offenders released into Lincolnshire from prisons or Young Offender Institutions subject to statutory supervision on licence. The National Probation Service Lincolnshire shares information about dangerous offenders to Local Housing Authorities where a tenancy or application for tenancy exists. • Lincolnshire Police Divisional Intelligence Units and Probation case managers routinely exchange information about risk.

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3.2

Offenders assessed as high risk of causing harm who are 

managed by the NPS Lincolnshire are assigned to Probation Officer Case Managers resourced to provide a higher level of intervention than with other offenders. The assessment of risk establishes the level of harm the offender is assessed as capable of causing and the likelihood of that harm being perpetrated. A dangerous offender is at real likelihood of causing serious harm. 3.3 Sex offenders liable to register their address with the police are similarly assessed in relation to their likelihood of causing harm. Sex Offenders and Dangerous Offenders Liaison Officers (specialist police officers) are responsible for managing the registration of sex offenders and prioritise their interventions towards those offenders assessed as dangerous; that is, presenting a real likelihood of causing serious harm. Officers within the Lincolnshire Police Service and National Probation Service Lincolnshire have received specialist training in the assessment of risk and utilise nationally accredited risk assessment tools which provide an important component of the risk assessment process. Dangerous offenders are subject to review at Divisional Risk Meetings which occur at least every 3 months. These meetings involve police and probation staff as well as staff from other agencies who may have involvement with the offender.

3.6

A very small number of offenders are assessed as posing an exceptionally high risk of causing the most serious harm. In these cases a referral is made to the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPP). The Panel is a jointly funded enterprise which has area responsibility for offenders living throughout Lincolnshire. The Panel is governed by a written protocol which includes a strict code of confidentiality. The MAPPP meets at least monthly and comprises of; • MAPPP Manager who is a seconded senior probation officer MAPPP Administrator Senior Manager / Core Panel Member from Lincolnshire Police

Lincolnshire. 3.7 In the event that an individual is considered as highly dangerous a referral is made to any Senior Manager / Core Panel Member involved in the MAPPP. If that Senior Manager deems there is sufficient concern about the case then a meeting is convened by the MAPPP Manager and any staff from agencies with involvement in the case are invited to attend the meeting (in addition to the senior manger / core panel members). Information about the individual is shared within a strict code of confidentiality and a decision made by the Core Panel Members as to whether the case should be registered for the continued oversight of the MAPPP. Where a decision is made for the MAPPP to maintain oversight of the case the subject of the meeting will normally receive a written notification of this decision. In exceptional circumstances where such notification is judged likely to exacerbate the risk of harm posed notification will not occur. Thereafter the case will be reviewed on a regular basis, normally at least 3 monthly. A detailed written record is made of all meetings and distributed within the code of confidentiality by which the meetings are governed. 3.9 MAPPP meetings will determine actions to be taken by agencies working together to reduce and or manage the risk(s) posed by the subject of the meeting. All action points are monitored to ensure they are

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3.8 • Senior Manager / Core Panel Member from Lincolnshire Social Services Directorate Senior Manager / Core Panel Member from the National Probation Service Lincolnshire Senior Manager / Core Panel Member from the Housing Authority Senior Manager / Core Panel Member from Lincolnshire Education and Cultural Services Senior Manager Core Panel Member from Lincolnshire Health Services

3.4

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3.5

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The MAPPP is based at Police Headquarters but meets at venues throughout 

carried out. In addition to interventions focussing upon the subject of the meeting there is attention paid to the protections which can be afforded potential victims. Wherever possible and

appropriate, action will be taken to engage the potential offender and / or the potential victim(s) in determining and participating in these plans and actions.

3.10

The MAPPP is rigorous in relinquishing oversight of a case where the likelihood of dangerous behaviour is assessed as being reduced or adequately managed.

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4. Strategic Management Arrangements
4.1 The operation of the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel and the development of provisions within the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act section 67 and section 68 are managed by the MAPPP Strategic Management Group (formerly the MAPPP Steering Group) The Strategic Management Group has met bi-annually since the inception of the area MAPPP and is chaired by the Assistant Chief Officer (Probation). Other members of the Strategic Management Group are the Assistant Chief Constable of Police, County Manager East of Children and Family Services (Social Services), Director of Education and Cultural Services, Director of Planning and Performance (Health Authority), County Manger of Adult Mental Health Services (Lincolnshire Healthcare NHS Trust) and the Director of Housing and Environmental Health (Lincoln City Council) 4.2 The MAPPP Steering Group was established by Lincolnshire in Partnership; a strategic forum for Chief Executives of statutory agencies in Lincolnshire. The MAPPP commenced as a three year pilot in March 1999 and the MAPPP Steering Group was established to report to Lincolnshire In Partnership about the project. The MAPPP Steering Group has received 6 monthly written reports which include extensive statistical information about the work of the project. 4.3 In 2002 a decision was made by the Chief Executives at Lincolnshire In Partnership to resource the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel on a permanent basis and the MAPPP Steering Group was re-assigned the MAPPP Strategic Management Group accordingly.

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5. Disclosure
5.1 The MAPPP protocol acknowledges procedures already in place in relation to disclosure and makes reference to: Lincolnshire Area Child Protection Committee Code of Practice and Supplementary Procedures which gives guidance in relation to Schedule 1 offenders and rules regarding disclosure to family members. The protocol also acknowledges guidance contained in Home Office Circular 39/97 (in relation to the implementation of the 

Sex Offender Act 1997) which relates to disclosure of information to third parties who are not part of the criminal justice system or child protection agencies. 5.2 In exceptional circumstances a recommendation can be made by the MAPPP to disclose information about a dangerous individual to a third party. Such disclosure would only be considered as an element of an overall plan

of risk management. The final decision about such disclosure of information rests with the Assistant Chief Constable. An example of such disclosure which has occurred previously is the identification of a paeodophile to specific workers in a voluntary section organisation dealing with children where there was evidence of the children in their care being at risk from this individual.

Before making any disclosure the police will always be fully prepared to give advice and guidance on what action is required to be taken by the person(s) receiving the information and a contact person will be identified to provide further guidance and advice as required.

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6. Victims Work
6.1 Section 69 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services act 2000 places a statutory duty upon the National Probation Service, Lincolnshire to contact victims and ask if they wish to be consulted about the release arrangements for violent and sexual offenders sentenced to 12 months custody or more. Specialist staff (Victim Contact Officers) are based in each of the three divisions dealing exclusively with the victims of crime for whom the organisation has statutory responsibility. Extensive efforts are made to locate victims and approach is made in a manner which respects the wishes of the victim to be involved in the conduct of the case. Where a victim chooses to be consulted about the case the Victim Contact Officer will normally meet with the victim(s) at a time and place convenient to them. The majority of victims are visited within their own home. 6.3 Victims are entitled to be kept informed of the offender’s release arrangement, the month and general location, and details of any licence conditions that restrict the offenders movements in ways which could impact on them. Victim Support is the national charity for people affected by crime. It is an independent organisation, offering a free and confidential serivce, whether or not a crime has been reported. Trained staff and volunteers at local branches offer information and support to victims, witnesses, their families and friends. Victim Support provides the Witness Service, based in every criminal court in England and Wales, to offer assistance before, during and after a trial. You can also call the Victim Support line – 0845 30 30 900 – for information and support and details of local services and other relevant organisations.”

6.2

6.4

6.5 

6.6 Contact Numbers for other local Victim Support services are as follows:

Victim Support:

Telephone

Boston

Area Manager The Victim Support Area Office The Len Medlock Voluntary Centre St George's Road Boston Lincs PE 21 8YB

01205 359 759

Branch Office - Boston and South Holland

Victim Support Co-ordinator The Len Medlock Voluntary Centre St George's Road Boston Lincs PE 21 8YB

01205 315905

Branch Office – Lincoln

Victim Support Lincoln Police Station West Parade Lincoln LN1 1YP

01522 511266

Branch Office – Gainsborough

West Lindsey Victim Support Co-Ordinator Gainsborough Police Station Morton Terrace Gainsborough Lincs DN21 2SY

01427 810358

Branch Office – Grantham (North Kesteven)

Victim Support Co-Ordinator Grantham Police Station Stonebridge Road Grantham Lincs NG34 9DD

01476 590057

Branch Office – Skegness (East Lindsey)

Victim Support Co-Ordinator Town Hall North Parade Skegness Lincs PE25 1DA

01754 610619 

Witness Support:

Telephone

Lincoln

Lincoln Magistrates Court 358 High Street Lincoln LN5 7QA

01522 576344

Lincolnshire Crown Court Witness Scheme The Castle Castle Hill Lincoln LN1 3AA

01522 568644

Grantham

Grrantham Magistrates Court Harlaxton Road Grantham Lincs

01476 562858

Eastern Branch (Covers Boston & Skegness Courts)

Boston Magistrates Court The Sessions House Church Yard Boston Lincs PE21 6LZ

01205 353515 

7.

Statistical Information
Number of Offenders i. The number of Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) in the community on 31.03.02 (s68 (2) CJ & CS Act 2000) The number of RSOs per 100,000 population 203 32

ii.

The number of SOs cautioned/convicted for breaches of registration requirement 01.04.01 – 31.03.02

7

iii.

The number of Sex Offender Orders 01.04.01 – 31.03.02 (a) total applied for (b) granted (c) not granted (d) applications still in progress 7 3 1 3 356

Iv

The number of violent offenders and other sex offenders 01.04.01 – 31.03.02 (s68 (3) (4) (5) CJ&CS Act 2000)

The number of other offenders 01.04.01 – 31.03.02 (s67 (2) (b) CJ&CS Act 2000)

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8.
8.1

Additional Costs of Local Arrangements
As described in this report the multi agency arrangements for the management of dangerous offenders in Lincolnshire have been in place for some substantial time, most significantly the establishment of the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel in March 1999. Developments within these arrangements have taken full account of the requirements of s67 &s68 of the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 which became a statutory duty for the Police and Probation Services in April 2001, The Act has been taken into account in redefining to a limited extent that group of offenders whom the procedures already in place are to target. The duties within the Act also have implications for the adjustment of data collection. 8.2 In these circumstances no additional costs for the implementation of local arrangements can be identified.