Multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA)

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue, together with HM Inspectorate of Probation and HM Inspectorate of Prisons, published a joint report looking at whether prisons, police and probation, along with other agencies, had achieved delivering multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA).

MAPPA have been part of the criminal justice landscape for 20 years. They have created a formal multi-agency framework aimed at bringing together criminal justice agencies and other services to manage the risks that people convicted of violent or sexual offences pose to the public.

Twenty years on, is MAPPA achieving its objectives? A joint thematic inspection of Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements – 14 July 2022

This joint inspection examined the work of prisons, police, and probation in delivering MAPPA. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the inspection work was completed remotely, with interviews and focus groups conducted via online platforms. In total, 107 cases were inspected jointly by HM Inspectorate of Probation and HMICFRS, selected from six MAPPA areas.

The inspection aimed to answer the following questions:

• Do the governance and leadership from the responsible authority agencies support and promote the delivery of a high-quality, personalised, and responsive approach to delivering MAPPA?
• Do the skills of all staff involved with MAPPA support the delivery of high-quality arrangements?
• Is timely and relevant information available to support high-quality MAPPA?
• Are arrangements with statutory partners, providers, and other agencies established, maintained, and used effectively to deliver high-quality services?
• How effective are MAPPA at keeping people safe?

The inspectorates made several recommendations for improvement.

Further information

Learn more about our criminal justice joint inspections.