The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)
Keeping Communities Safe
The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) allow police, prison and probation officers work together with others to manage and monitor cases of offenders who have committed serious sexual or violent offences and to help the victims of crime.
Partnerships
Cambridgeshire has been at the forefront of partnership work that manages high risk offenders. The first 'Dangerous Offender Conferences' were held in 1997 with the establishment of a pilot project in Peterborough. Police and the Probation Service were able to come together to discuss and monitor the cases of offenders who had committed serious sexual or violent offences. The criminal justice agencies were later joined by the Prison Service and Social Services and housing representatives
Lay advisers
In Cambridgeshire these robust arrangements have been further strengthened by the introduction of lay advisors. They bring a public perspective to the work of MAPPA and ensure the arrangements are transparent.
The three tier system
MAPPA manages a three tier system that ensures the most dangerous offenders receive the greatest degree of scrutiny and management. Formal and confidential meetings are held regularly where members concentrate on offenders living in the local community or about to be released from prison.
The highest risk category (tier three) is made up from the 'critical few' offenders who are assessed as being high or very high risk of causing serious harm. This small group presents risks than can only be managed by close co-operation at a senior level. In 2004/5 only three offenders were managed at this category. This is in line with Home Office advice that only the 'critical few' should be referred to the tier three Multi Agency Protection Panel.
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