POLICE chiefs have welcomed a report published this week analysing the handling of high-risk offenders which has kept communities safe,

The annual Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) report for Wiltshire highlighted that more than 70 offenders were dealt with through the programme in the past year.

Wiltshire Police work alongside the National Probation Service and Her Majesty’s Prison Service to manage high risk offenders, together with Swindon and Wiltshire Councils, Swindon and Wiltshire Youth Offending Service, Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, Circles of Support and Accountability South West and the Department of Works & Pensions.

These high risk offenders are subject to the MAPPA arrangements in order to protect potential victims and the public from the risks they pose.

Detective Inspector Paul Hacker, of the Crime Prevention Department, said: “This is an encouraging report and shows offenders are being well managed through MAPPA and while this extends the record of excellence we have been able to report in previous years, we need to be measured in our response to this.

“Offenders remain at risk of re-offending and risk cannot be fully eliminated. It is recognised that although violent and sexual offending makes up only a small percentage of all crime in Wiltshire and Swindon the harm caused by such offending is considerable to victims, their families and to communities.

"The local community has a right to feel protected and safe. MAPPA is designed to bring agencies together to help manage risk and keep it to a minimum.

“We had a yearly total of 72 level 2 and 3 eligible offenders referred into MAPPA during the year. A total of 24 of these were category 1 (registered sex offenders), 20 were category 2 (violent offenders), and 28 were category 3 (other dangerous offenders).

"The work of MAPPA ensures that there are Approved Premises available for high risk of harm offenders who are leaving prison and that specific work is undertaken with them on problem behaviour and attitudes, with closer monitoring of their activities when required, the sanction of recalls into custody.

“Over the next year, we will continue to support MAPPA to deliver a high standard of service to the people of Wiltshire and Swindon maintaining our practice and effectiveness to keep our communities safe.”