Wiltshire report shows justice agencies working well together (From Swindon Advertiser)

Wiltshire report shows justice agencies working well together

2:13pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in News By Web Team

THE annual Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements report for Wiltshire has been published today.

Partners involved in the MAPPA process include the Probation Trust, H.M. Prison Service and Wiltshire Police who work together to manage the risks posed by certain convicted violent and sexual offenders.

This annual report identifies further good results for Wiltshire whereby criminal justice agencies are working successfully together with local councils and agencies to protect the public from serious criminals.

The report can be viewed here

Deputy Chief Constable Mike Veale said: “Aiming to make Wiltshire and Swindon the safest county in the country is the vision of MAPPA. The report explains how we strive to achieve this.

“The figures released today reinforce that the processes in place offer the maximum protection to the public as they are intended to do.

“Once again the latest report for Wiltshire and Swindon reveals there was a very low rate of further serious offending during this period with just four Level 2 and 3 offenders returning to custody.

“The Probation Trust and Wiltshire Police demand good compliance by offenders with the supervision and monitoring arrangements. This is achieved in a high percentage of cases and rigorously enforced if offenders do not co-operate.

“On top of managing the risks posed by violent and sexual offenders living in the community, the Wiltshire and Swindon MAPPA Board has also supported two important initiatives during this period.

“One is the provision of software to Wiltshire Police which enables us to monitor specific computers used by offenders to establish knowledge of patterns of use.

“The second is the financial support given by MAPPA to a regional charity which works with sex offenders in community.

“This is the latest picture of the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements set up 11 years ago in England and Wales to provide more robust management systems for offenders who live in our communities through the sharing of information and joint planning risk management.”

The Wiltshire and Swindon MAPPA Board is now also on the lookout for two new lay advisers.

The role of the lay adviser, which is voluntary, is to attend the MAPPA Strategic Management Boards on a regular basis, observe a number of MAPPA Level 2 and 3 meetings in a year and attend some of the sub-groups which focus on audit and improvements of MAPPA practice. They provide an unbiased view of the operation of the system, constructive advice to the Strategic Management Board and look out for the interests of the community the MAPPA in Wiltshire and Swindon serves.

Anyone interested should contact the MAPPA Co-ordinator on mappa@wiltshire.pnn.police.uk and an information pack can be sent to them. The applications will close at the end of December 2012.