PUBLIC PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS

Protecting the public is the priority of the Probation Service nationally. To manage offenders who pose a particular degree of risk, we work in close partnership with other agencies including the Police, Prison Service, the health services and local authority housing and social services. These are the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

MAPPAs began operating in April 2001. They place a duty on the Police, Prisons and National Probation Service to assess and manage the risks posed by offenders in every community in England and Wales. In the most serious cases MAPPA can recommend increased police monitoring, special steps to protect victims and the use of closely supervised accommodation. The work of MAPPAs is explained in the form of the MAPPA annual report published jointly by the NPS, Prison Service and Police.

The recognition of the benefits of victim work resulted in a statutory duty to contact victims under the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000. The NPS welcomes this advance and sees the role of victims as a priority in the criminal justice process. At a victim’s request, he or she will be kept informed of an offender's release arrangements, and in some cases it will be vital that the victim is included in the determination of the supervision plan.

Click here for a copy of the MAPPA Annual Report 2007/08.