Scottish Government MAPPA annual overview report 2016

10.0 Police Scotland

Police Scotland has a key role to play in protecting the public from sex offenders and other persons who pose a risk of serious harm. This includes protecting particular individuals, groups of people such as children or vulnerable adults, the general public and members of staff. The delivery of this high profile area of police business is essential in maintaining and enhancing public confidence in the work of the police and partner agencies. The consequences of failure can be devastating for individuals, families, communities, partner agencies and the Police Service.

MAPPA allows Police Scotland to work in partnership with the other Responsible Authorities to provide effective and efficient management of Registered Sex Offenders ( RSOs) and Serious & Violent Offenders. This is achieved through consistent practice; enhancing and developing new and existing partnerships to manage the inherent risks and challenges posed by these offenders and to exploit all intelligence and new technologies to manage and mitigate risk.

Police Scotland has Offender Management Units in each of the 13 territorial Divisions with specially trained staff dedicated to the management of RSOs, Restricted Patients and Serious and Violent Offenders. The National Offender Management Unit ( NOMU) is a central unit providing governance, review and quality assurance to ensure compliance and consistent practice throughout offender management.

In the reporting year the Scottish Government funded the development of Police Risk Practice training in conjunction with the Risk Management Authority. This training was delivered to all staff within Offender Management Units and provided officers with a framework and structured evidence based process to assess and manage risk of serious harm. This will ensure improved effectiveness in the multi-agency management of serious offenders in the community.

Police Scotland welcomed the Joint Thematic Review of MAPPA realising the importance of continually reviewing and reassessing practices and processes to ensure they remain efficient and effective. We are working with the Scottish Government and other Responsible Authorities to address the recommendations raised from this report. This includes running a Police Risk Practice Pilot aimed at testing a framework for risk assessment and process for MAPPA Level 1 offenders and introducing in late 2016, computer enabled software to assist in the management and monitoring of RSOs who have committed internet related offences.