MAPPA stands for Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements – a set of arrangements established by police, local authorities, prison service and health known as the Responsible Authorities, to assess and manage the risk posed by certain offenders.
Other agencies that have a duty to co-operate in MAPPA include Jobcentre Plus, registered social landlords, electronic monitoring providers, the Children's Reporter and other agencies that support the responsible authorities in managing the risk and providing support to the offenders.
The principles that govern MAPPA are simple:
- identify convicted offenders who may pose a risk of harm
- share relevant information about them
- assess the nature and extent of that risk
- find ways to manage that risk effectively protecting victims and reducing further harm
Statutory basis
Section 10 of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2005 (the Act) provides the statutory basis for the operation of MAPPA.
MAPPA in itself is not a statutory development but a means of the SPS, local authorities, police, and health to “jointly establish arrangements for the assessment and management of risks posed by certain categories of offenders".
Although there are no age restrictions for MAPPA, children would only fall under these arrangements if convicted of offences by courts and not if dealt with through the Children’s Hearings System.
In Tayside the Responsible Authorities are:
- the local authorities of Angus, Dundee and Perth & Kinross
- Police Scotland
- Scottish Prison Service
NHS Tayside are deemed the Responsible Authority in respect of Mentally Disordered Restricted Patients only, and a 'duty to co-operate' agency in respect of all other offenders subject to MAPPA.
The Tayside MAPPA Strategic Oversight Group has the overview of MAPPA.
This group is made up of senior representatives from the responsible authorities and is tasked with keeping the MAPPA under review and ensuring the systems are fit for purpose.
The SOG is supported by the MAPPA Operational Group which considers the ongoing development of MAPPA and reports on performance at an operational level.