Northern Community Justice Authority publishes second annual report on its work with sex offenders

The Northern Community Justice Authority (NCJA) has published its second detailed annual report which outlines how the agencies involved have effectively worked together to ensure that sex offenders in the community pose as little risk as possible to the public.

The Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)  were introduced in 2007 to provide a framework for identifying, assessing and managing convicted sex offenders in the community.

Their prime purpose is public safety and the report identifies how all the agencies involved in the NCJA area work together to assess, monitor and reduce any risk.

The report highlights developments in work with this high-risk offender group including the establishment of the Strategic MAPPA Group in the NCJA area, the establishment of a quality assurance model and improvements in information sharing which is key to agencies working closely together.

Commenting on the report Linda Dorward, vice chair of the NCJA’s MAPPA Strategic Oversight Group, said:

“This report provides clear evidence that we have the appropriate structures and measures in place to identify, to assess and to manage the risks posed by serious and violent offenders.

“Managing the risks posed by sex offenders within the community is a complex exercise which cuts across the organisational boundaries and responsibilities of local authorities, police, prisons, housing and health services.

“We aim in this report to set out a visible and clear assurance to the public that risks have been identified and during the year have been effectively and appropriately managed by the agencies involved.”