Protecting the Public from Potentially Dangerous Offenders

Annual Report 2001/2002

1. Introduction

This report accompanies the national report on MAPPA. It describes how

these arrangements have been implemented in West Yorkshire.

The West Yorkshire area pioneered a joint Police and Probation approach
to public protection in Bradford in 1990. This was in response to concerns
about the potential behaviour of some particular offenders who were soon
to be released from prison.

Informal liaison was developed into a case conference arrangement and

this method was spread across the area in 1993. The case conferences
were expanded to include representation from child protection, health and
housing and victim agencies. On the basis of this experience a national
public protection conference was hosted in Bradford in 1997. The approach
in West Yorkshire has been commended in national inspectorate reports.

There are five metropolitan districts in West Yorkshire. Each of these

districts has local liaison arrangements between Probation and Police.
Multi-Agency Public Protection Panels (MAPPPs) are held in each district.
These are chaired and administered by the Probation Service. Cases can
be referred by any of the participating agencies, although in practice the
majority of cases are referred by the two lead agencies. The MAPPPs also
consider cases referred by Youth Offending Teams.

Further information on these arrangements is available from the contacts

given at the end of this report.
2. Roles and Responsibilities
In this year, steps have been
taken to refine and consolidate
local arrangements made for
public protection in line with
Guidance issued by the
Secretary of State.
In some districts there is full
participation in MAPPP
3. Outline of arrangements
The assessment of the risk of
harm or degree of
dangerousness is a core task
for the Probation and Police
services in the West Yorkshire
area. In Probation all offenders
are subject to a comprehensive
assessment of the likelihood
that they will re-offend and the
potential harm that another
offence might cause. This
assessment is undertaken at
the first point of contact by the
responsible staff member. It is
a formalised process and is
based on a variety of sources of
information. Where a Cour
report is being prepared this
information will be used to
determine the sentencing
proposal. Following sentence
this risk assessment
determines the nature and level
of supervision, and where
appropriate, referral to a
4. Strategic Management arrangements
The current arrangements were
reviewed in 2000. A formal
Police and Probation protocol
was agreed and staff training
was delivered and received on
a joint agency basis. This
provided an area wide strategic
framework, albeit with local
arrangements by Health
(Forensic and Mental Health
Services), Social Services
(Child Protection) and local
authority housing officials.
Steps are being taken to secure
these arrangements in the
districts where they are not yet
fully in place. Given the
MAPPP. The information is also
shared with prison staff where
there is a prison sentence. At
present all MAPPP meetings
are chaired by the Assistant
Chief Officer of the relevant
district. In accordance with the
advice from the Secretary of
State, steps are being taken to
ensure MAPPPs are only
convened for the very highest
risk offenders.
Police assess all Sex Offenders
who are subject to registration
under the Sex Offender Act.
t This assessment will
determine the level of
monitoring and surveillance
undertaken and whether the
case is referred for MAPPP
consideration.
At the MAPPP there is a panel
of senior officers from the
arrangements that were
responsive to local needs and
circumstances.
At district level, discussions are
to be held with representatives
of the various local authorities,
health authorities and other
number and range of different
agency boundaries, it is not
possible to summarise the roles
of these agencies in a single
document for West Yorkshire.
Further information can be
obtained from the contacts
given at the end of this report.
participating agencies and
details are presented by staff
who have direct contact with
the case. Information
concerning victims or potential
victims will also be presented.
At the conclusion of the
discussion the meeting will
confirm the action to be taken
and when the case will be
reviewed. Action to protect any
identifiable victims is always a
key priority though this only
arises in a minority of cases.
The police and probation
services ensure that there are
identifier ‘flags’ for high risk o r
potentially dangerous offenders
who may come to their
attention in a routine manner.
MAPPPs are held on a regular
basis across West Yorkshire;
the exact frequency varies by
size of district and level of
activity.
bodies on the proposals and
implications for future
arrangements.
A further review is currently
being held. This is sponsored
by the Chief Officers of each
agency and has a Project
Board. It is anticipated that this
will lead to an increase in the
resources devoted to this area
5. Disclosure
A great deal of attention has
been given locally to the
question of disclosure, usually
in relation to child sex
offenders. Discussions have
been held with a wide range of
agencies and with local Area
Child Protection Committees.
The local arrangements reflect
this consultation. Discussions
have been held with the editors
of local newspapers, radio and
television stations on issues
relating to media disclosure.
Third party disclosure takes
place where there is an
identifiable risk to a victim or
category of victims. The final
decision rests with a senior
police officer but this decision is
only taken after consultation
with a local MAPPP, unless
there is an imminent risk.
6. Victims work
Both Probation and Police
services work closely with local
victim agencies. The Probation
service has local victim-offender
units in each district. The
standing membership of each
MAPPP includes representation
from the specialist probation
victim offender unit. These
developed from the pioneering
Leeds mediation/reparation
work in the 1980’s but are now
focused on the statutory duties
to consult victims or victims'
families in all Lifer cases or
of work and closer operational
co-operation. Both agencies
would like to achieve co-
An example where disclosure
to an individual or organisation
has been agreed by a MAPPP
follows:-
This man was convicted of
sex offences against a girl
under 16, who was a
member of his family, and
was sentenced to 8 years in
custody.
Whilst in prison, he began
writing to a number of
women throughout the
country, including several in
West Yorkshire. Some of
these relationships became
more than penfriendship, and
there was evidence that he
had proposed marriage to
one woman. The offender
told his Probation Officer he
had not revealed to this
parole cases where release is
discretionary. In addition there
are local arrangements for
contacting victims in all
Domestic Violence cases.
These arrangements ensure
that the victim's voice is heard
where key decisions, especially
those concerning release from
prison are being made. One
West Yorkshire district victim-
offender unit surveyed the
views of victims with whom it
was working by sending out 39
location for the key staff
involved in this work.
woman the real reason he
had been imprisoned.
When the offender, now
aged 51, was due to be
released, a MAPPP
discussed concerns that he
could re-offend if he was in a
relationship with a woman
who had daughters under
16. The following
management action plan
was agreed:-
that in order to protect
members of the public, the
police would disclose the
criminal record and the risk
posed to any woman with
whom he had a relationship,
if she either had children
herself or had contact with
children.
questionnaires. Of the 23 forms
returned (59%), 12 respondents
said they were 'satisfied' with
the service provided and 11
said they were 'very satisfied'
The following pen pictures
illustrate the value of this
approach:-
Sally
Sally’s partner was convicted
of raping and badly injuring
her. He had become more
 and more possessive and
violent when she tried to end
their relationship.
Although she was terrified of
meeting him again on his
release, Sally had been
unable to talk about this to
anyone. It was only when
the Victim Enquiry was
begun by the Probation
Victim-Offender Unit that she
was able to raise the issues
that concerned her. These
were fed back through
MAPPP meetings, and as a
result she was re-housed in
safe accommodation well
away from the district. On his
release, conditions were
plac ed on Sally’s ex-partner
requiring him not to try to
approach her. She was well
aware of release plans and
felt far more protected as a
result of the joint work of the
Victim Offender Unit, Police
and other agencies involved.
Lisa
Victim Enquiry work with
Lisa, who had been violently
raped, revealed her fears
and anger about the release
of her attacker. She was put
in touch with support
Victim Support Schemes in West Yorkshire
Calderdale VSS
Helen Whale
Co-ordinator Off Hopwood Lane
Huddersfield VSS
Carol Sanderson
Co-ordinatorHuddersfield
agencies, but found it hard
to “move on” while he still
protested his innocence.
Following MAPPP meetings,
the police were able to set
up safety devices including
alarms, which enabled her to
recommence her studies.
When the offender finally
acknowledged his guilt, this
information was passed on
to her promptly, and she
began to rebuild her
confidence.
Arthur
Arthur, a pensioner, was
murdered by a young man
who lived on his estate. No
motive for the killing has
ever been established, a fact
with which his frail wife has
struggled ever since.
Victim Enquiry work started
early on in the life sentence,
so Arthur’s family were kept
fully updated throughout his
sentence.
Their views were passed on
to the MAPPP and a
condition was put in the
licence barring the offender
from ever returning to the
estate. He had to face the
5 Park RoadTel: 01422 344742
Halifax HX1 2TS
PO Box 479Tel: 01484 511112
HD1 2YG
fact that when released, he
would never be able to
return to the family home.
The victim’s family felt they
had regained some power,
and were able to accept the
eventual release.
Victim Support is the national
charity for people affected by
crime. It is an independent
organisation, offering a free and
confidential service, 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.
There is a national Victim
Supportline – 0845 30 30 900 –
for information and support and
details of local services and
other relevant organisations.
The following are the contact
details for Victim Support in
West Yorkshire:
Keighley VSS

Joanne Waterhouse 1st Floor 105-107 East ParadeTel: 01535 606871

Co-ordinatorKeighley
BD21 5HU

Wakefield VSS

Cath Saxton PO Box 130Tel: 01924 369107

Co-ordinatorWakefield
WF1 2XQ

NE Leeds VSS

Marie Hearnshaw St Theresa’s Parish CentreTel: 0113 2930199

Co-ordinatorStation Road
Leeds LS15 7JY

NW Leeds VS

Corinne Hunt Suites 2-3 Tel: 0113 2392299

Co-ordinator: Gledhow Mount Mansion
Roxholme Grove
Leeds LS7 1AB

S & W Leeds VSS

Trevor Buckroyd The One Stop CentreTel: 0113 2713558

Co-ordinator190 Dewsbury Road
Leeds LS11 6PF

Dewsbury & District VSS

Carol Sanderson Batley Police StationTel: 01924 476622

Co-ordinatorMarket Place
Batley WF17 5DG

Area Director

Chris Carling Woolston HouseTel: 01274 390360

3 Tetley Street
Bradford BD1 2NP
7. Statistical Information
Number of Offenders See Note

i) The number of Registered Sex Offenders 1045 (i)

(RSOs) in the community on 31/03/02
(S68(2) CJ & CS Act 2000)

The number of RSOs per 100,000 population 49

ii) The number of SOs cautioned/convicted for 19

breaches of registration requirement
01/04/01 – 31/03/02

iii) The number of Sex Offender Orders (ii)

01/04/01 - 31/03/02

a) total applied for 1

b) granted 1

c) not granted 0

d) applications still in progress 2

iv) The number of violent offenders and other sex 2046 (iii)
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) 110 (iv)

CJ & CS Act 2000)

NOTES

(i) Registered Sex Offenders - s68(2) CJ & CS Act 2000: an offender who is
subject to the notification requirements of Part 1 of the Sex Offenders’
Act 1997

(ii) A Sex Offender Order may be applied for by the police where the
behaviour of sex offender gives cause for concern that the public are
at risk of serious harm from him/her. This is a civil order for which
application is made to the magistrates’ court. It contains prohibitions on
the offender necessary to protect the public. It runs for at least 5 years
and requires the offender to register under the Sex Offenders’ Act 1997.

(iii) Violent Offenders & Other Sex Offenders - defined by s68 (3)(4) & (5)
CJ & CS Act 2000:

(3) A person falls within this subsection if -

(a) he is convicted by a court in England or Wales

of a sexual or violent offence (within the
meaning of the Powers of Criminal Courts
(Sentencing) Act 2000), and
 (b) one of the following sentences is imposed on
him in respect of the conviction -

(i) a sentence of imprisonment for a

term of 12 months or more

(ii) a sentence of detention in a young

offender institution for a term of 12
months or more

(iii) a sentence of detention during Her

Majesty’s Pleasure

(iv) a sentence of detention for a period

of 12 months or more under section
91 of the Powers of criminal Courts
(Sentencing) Act 2000 (offenders
under 18 convicted of certain serious
offences)

(v) a detention and training order for a

term of 12 months or more, or

(vi) a hospital or guardianship order

within the meaning of the Mental
Health Act 1983

(4) A person falls within this subsection if -

(a) he is found guilty by a court in England and

Wales of a sexual or violent offence (within the
meaning of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing)
Act 2000) by reason of insanity or to be under a
disability and to have done the act charged against
him in respect of such an offence and

(b) one of the following orders is made in respect of the

act charged against him as the offence -

(i) an order that he be admitted to hospital, or

(ii) a guardianship order within the meaning of the

Mental Health Act 1983

(5) A person falls within the subsection if the first condition set out
in section 28(2) or 29(2) or the second condition set out in
section 28(3) or 29(3) is satisfied in his case

(iv) Other Offenders - s67 (2)(b) CJ & CS Act 2000: an offender considered by the responsible
authority to be a person who may cause serious harm to the public not included in the above
categories
West Yorkshire Probation / Police Contact Details:
Probation

Assistant Chief Officer (Public Protection)

West Yorkshire Probation Board Tel: 01924 885300

Cliff Hill House
Sandy Walk
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 2DJ

Communications & Public Relations Manager

West Yorkshire Probation Board Tel: 01924 885300

Cliff Hill House
Sandy Walk
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 2DJ

Police

Head of Crime Operations

West Yorkshire Police HQ Tel: 01924 292388

PO Box 9
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 3QP

Principal Media & Public Relations Officer

West Yorkshire Police HQ Tel: 01924 292388

PO Box 9
Wakefield
West Yorkshire
WF1 3QP