Written question asked by Mike Hancock (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 16 December 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 January 2004. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Monday, 26 January 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the performance of multi-agency public protection panels.

Answer: Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the performance of multi-agency public protection panels. [145271] Paul Goggins: Two pieces of research into the multi- agency public protection arrangements (the MAPPA) are being conducted and will report next autumn. One will evaluate the effectiveness of the statutory framework of the MAPPA; the other will analyse the offenders referred to the multi-agency public protection panels and will identify good practice. In addition, the publication of an annual report on the MAPPA by each area of England and Wales provides a regular review of this important area of work. My written statement to the House on 15 September 2003 announcing the publication of these reports, indicated that the MAPPA have made a significant contribution to improving public protection. There is a further requirement where the court is considering making a Detention and Training Order on an offender below the age of 15: the court must additionally be satisfied that the young person is a persistent offender. (The Detention and Training Order is the standard order for offenders under 18 who are sentenced to custody).

Secondary information