Tayside MAPPA Annual Report 2021-22
Perth and Kinross Council · 25 January 2023
Back to Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee — 25 January 2023 and its agenda
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PERTH AND KINROSS COUNCIL Housing And Communities Committee 25 January 2023 TAYSIDE MAPPA ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 Report by Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) (Report No. 23/12) 1. PURPOSE 1.1 This report introduces the Tayside Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) Annual Report for 2021-22. 2. RECOMMENDATION 2.1 It is recommended that the Committee: • Notes and endorses the Tayside MAPPA Annual Report 2021-22; and • Request that the Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) brings forward future Annual Reports to Committee. 3. STRUCTURE OF REPORT 3.1 This report is structured over the following sections: • Section 4: Background • Section 5: MAPPA Annual Report 2021-22 • Section 6: Conclusion • Appendices 4. BACKGROUND 4.1 The Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 introduced a statutory duty on Responsible Authorities (local authorities, Scottish Prison Service (SPS), Police Scotland and Health Boards) to establish joint arrangements for the assessment and management of the risk posed by certain offenders who constitute a risk of harm to the public. The Responsible Authorities are required to keep these arrangements under review and publish an annual report. 4.2 The development of MAPPA in 2007 introduced a consistent approach to the management of certain high-risk offenders, which includes Registered Sex Offenders (RSO); Restricted Patients (RPs) since 2008 and Category 3 offenders (violent) since 2016. The principal purpose of MAPPA is to secure public safety and reduce serious harm.
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4.3 MAPPA is supported by the Violent and Sex Offender Register (ViSOR) which is a national IT system. The main function of which is to facilitate inter-agency communication and ensure that the Responsible Authorities contribute, share and store critical information for the management of MAPPA offenders. 4.4 Local MAPPA activity is overseen by the Tayside Strategic Oversight Group (SOG). The SOG not only provides oversight, but leadership, in respect of policy and procedures, thereby ensuring robust governance, performance monitoring and quality assurance. The Tayside SOG traditionally met quarterly, however, given the restrictions of the Covid pandemic, meetings have been every six weeks. This has allowed for close monitoring and information sharing of a continually evolving situation while ensuring statutory duties and functions were met in the monitoring and management of offenders. 4.5 The Tayside MAPPA SOG members are also represented on their respective local public protection groups. In Perth and Kinross, this includes the Protecting People Co-ordinating Group (PPCG) and Chief Officers Group (COG). This ensures that there is a clear strategic link to both the MAPPA Co-ordinator and the Independent Chair of the SOG. 5. MAPPA ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22 5.1 The MAPPA Annual Report 2021-22 covers the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. As of 31 March 2022, there were 356 MAPPA offenders in Tayside, of which, 121 were at liberty in Perth and Kinross. The figure for Perth and Kinross was a small decrease of 5 offenders compared to the same reporting point in the previous year, and a small decrease was also noted in Angus, with Dundee reporting no increase or decrease. 5.2 During the reporting year 2021-2022, the Covid pandemic was still a significant factor affecting business and the delivery of services across councils and other Responsible Authorities. As we emerged from the pandemic, an increase in regular face to face appointments with offenders became possible. 5.3 Microsoft Teams has proved to be a preferred method for facilitating professionals’ meetings, including MAPPA meetings, even after the end of the pandemic, as it allows more effective use of resources in terms of staff time and travel. 6. CONCLUSION 6.1 The management of risk within the community presents many challenges and impacts on a number of agencies across organisational boundaries, and most importantly, communities themselves. While it is not possible to entirely eliminate risk, the agencies within Tayside have always worked collaboratively and in partnership to manage those individuals subject to MAPPA and who may present a significant risk to the public. 6.2 This reporting year, as with the previous one, has highlighted a particular set of challenges in the ability to deliver MAPPA and ensure public safety.
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Although the collaboration and co-production between Responsible Authorities has been tested, service delivery has adapted and not diminished. This is a testament to the strength of the partnerships which exist in Perth and Kinross and across public protection agencies. In addition, the SOG has adapted to the changed environment while continuing to maintain its focus on reviewing and improving standards. This ethos is also reflected in the public protection arrangements in Perth and Kinross and will serve to inform the future safety measures for our communities and citizens. Author Name Designation Contact Details Derek Mortimer Acting Service Manager, Criminal Justice Social Work Service ECSCommittee@pkc.gov.uk 01738 475000 Approved Name Designation Date Sheena Devlin Executive Director (Education and Children’s Services) 22 December 2022
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ANNEX 1. IMPLICATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, CONSULTATION AND COMMUNICATION Strategic Implications Yes/None Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement Yes Corporate Plan Yes Resource Implications Financial n/a Workforce n/a Asset Management (land, property, IST) n/a Assessments Equality Impact Assessment n/a Strategic Environmental Assessment n/a Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) n/a Legal and Governance n/a Risk n/a Consultation Internal n/a External Yes Communication Communications Plan n/a 1. Strategic Implications Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement 1.1 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the delivery of the Perth and Kinross Community Plan/Single Outcome Agreement in terms of the following priorities: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (v). Corporate Plan 1.2 This section sets out how the proposals relate to the achievement of the Council’s Corporate Plan Objectives: (i) Giving every child the best start in life; (ii) Developing educated, responsible and informed citizens; (iii) Promoting a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable economy; (iv) Supporting people to lead independent, healthy and active lives; and (v) Creating a safe and sustainable place for future generations. This report relates to Objective No. (v).
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1.3 The report also links to the Education & Children’s Services Vision, Values and Priorities in respect of the following key Priority area: • Safe and Protected 2. Resource Implications Financial 2.1 There are no financial implications arising from this report. Workforce 2.2 There are no workforce issues arising from this report. Asset Management (land, property, IT) 2.3 There are no asset management issues arising from this report. 3. Assessments 3.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, the Council is required to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between equality groups. Carrying out Equality Impact Assessments for plans and policies allows the Council to demonstrate that it is meeting these duties. 3.1.1 The proposals have been considered under the Corporate Equalities Impact Assessment process (EqIA) with the following outcome: (i) Assessed as not relevant for the purposes of EqIA. Strategic Environmental Assessment 3.2 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 places a duty on the Council to identify and assess the environmental consequences of its proposals. 3.2.1 However, no action is required as the Act does not apply to the matters presented in this report. This is because the Committee are requested to note the contents of the report only and the Committee are not being requested to approve, adopt or agree to an action or to set the framework for future decisions. Sustainability 3.3 Under the provisions of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003, the Council has to discharge its duties in a way which contributes to the achievement of sustainable development. Under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 the Council also has a duty relating to climate change and, in exercising its functions must act:
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• In the way best calculated to delivery of the Act’s emissions reduction targets. • In the way best calculated to deliver any statutory adaption programmes. • In a way that it considers most sustainable. 3.3.1 There are no sustainability issues in respect of this report. Legal and Governance 3.4 This report contains no issues which would have a legal or governance impact on the Council. 3.5 There are no implications for the Council’s Scheme of Administration in this report. Risk 3.6 There are no issues of risk arising from the proposals in this report. 4. Consultation Internal 4.1 None. External 4.2 The Tayside MAPPA Co-ordinator has approved the report. 5. Communication 5.1 Not relevant to this report. 2. BACKGROUND PAPERS 2.1 No background papers, as defined by Section 50D of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (and not containing confidential or exempt information) were relied on to a material extent in preparing this report. 3. APPENDICES 3.1 Appendix 1 – Tayside MAPPA Annual Report 2021-2022