The Multi Agency Public Protection Panel

There are only about 20 offenders throughout the UK who can be held legally in prison, literally for life. Most serious violent and sexual offenders will be released into the community at some point and for at least a period of time will be under the supervision of their offender manager.

However in some cases, despite the individual being legally released, there are concerns that they will re-offend and commit an equally serious or more serious offence. For this reason, certain dangerous offenders are monitored through Hertfordshire's multi agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA). The National Probation Service has a major role in these arrangements and chairs the MAPPA Strategic Management Board.

MAPPA consists of:

• officers of the probation service
• the police
• the prison service
• voluntary agencies
• local and health authorities
• child protection agencies.

It comprises three panels:

• the Localr Risk Management Panel (LRMP)
• the Multi Agency Public Protection Panel (MAPPP)
• the Strategic Management Board (SMB).

The LRMP and MAPPP monitor different levels of risk whilst the SMB sets the strategic direction of the county's MAPPA. The SMB also includes lay advisors that assist the Board in setting policy and reviewing cases.

The MAPP panels can reduce an offender's risk through measures such as ensuring stable housing and providing treatment for substance abuse. It can also order  measures that may restrict liberty and, in extreme cases, surveillance.

MAPPA cannot completely eliminate the risk of a serious offender re-offending. However it is extremely effective at reducing the risk.

2007/08 MAPPA annual report (PDF, 824k)
2006/07 MAPPA annual report (PDF, 612k)