Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)

MAPPA stands for Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements - a set of arrangements established by Police, local authorities, National Health Service and Health Boards and the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), (known as responsible authorities) to assess and manage the risk posed by sexual and violent offenders.

Section 10 and 11 of the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2005 (the Act) provide the statutory basis for the operation of MAPPA, however, the principles that govern MAPPA are simple:

• identify those who may pose a risk of harm;
• share relevant information about them
• assess the nature and extent of that risk
• find ways to defensibly manage the risk effectively, using available resources most efficiently, to protect victims and reduce further harm