November 2024 Public Protection Consolidated

This unit must be completed to comply with the Policing Education Qualifications Framework (PEQF) on the National Detective Programme. This unit should take around 60 minutes to complete and does not need to be completed all at once. You can return to this unit as often as you like.

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November 2024

Public Protection (Consolidated PEQF Content)

Understand the impact Family Court can have on an investigation

Assess the media influence upon perceptions of public protection policing strategies

Understand how offenders can use their position of authority to commit offences

Critically assess police strategies for dealing with public protection incidents

Critically review the links between Serious and Organised Crime Groups and public protection issues

Critically assess the impact of abuse upon victims

Click on an objective to start learning. You can work through in order or start with the objective that interests you the most.

Objectives for this session:

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1. Explore the link between abuse, depression, self-blame and behavioural changes 2. Explore the link between abuse and the long-term effects on a victim’s health, education and social standing and the impact of abuse on a victim’s memory 3. Understand how perpetrators may exploit victims in order to prevent detection

In this section you will:

Critically assess the impact of abuse upon victims

2. Depression

1. Abuse

3. Self-blame

4. Behaviour Change

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1.1 Explore the link between abuse, depression, self-blame and behavioural changes

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1.2 Explore the link between abuse and the long-term effects on a victim’s health, education and social standing and the impact of abuse on a victim’s memory

Using words like 'only' and 'just'

Preventing the victim from working

Controlling access to buy silence

Humiliation, ridicule and shaming

Humiliation, ridicule and shaming

Causing fear through threats

Minimisation and Denial

Isolation

Using the Children

Undermining Confidence

Intimidation and Threats

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Check Answers

Match the Examples to the Tactics

1.3 Understand how perpetrators may exploit victims in order to prevent detection

Using words like 'only' and 'just'

Preventing the victim from working

Controlling access to buy silence

Humiliation, ridicule and shaming

Humiliation, ridicule and shaming

Causing fear through threats

Minimisation and Denial

Isolation

Using the Children

Undermining Confidence

Intimidation and Threats

Next

Find out more

Here are the answers

1.3 Understand how perpetrators may exploit victims in order to prevent detection

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1. Explore the links between serious and organised crime and public protection issues 2. Evaluate disruption and detection strategies

In this section you will:

Critically review the links between Serious and Organised Crime Groups and public protection issues

Click each image to hear some of the ways serious and organised crime impact on public protection issues

Efforts to combat serious and organized crime are essential for public protection because these criminal networks often perpetrate activities that harm individuals, communities, and society as a whole.

Firearms and Weapons

Terrorism

Money Laundering

Cybercrime

Human Trafficking

Violence and Gangs

Drug and Substance Abuse

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2.1 Explore the links between serious and organised crime and public protection issues

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2.2 Evaluate disruption and detection strategies

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2.2 Evaluate disruption and detection strategies

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1. How MARAC and MAPPA manage offenders 2. Evaluate reports and data on conviction rates for offenders 3. Explore the use of community intelligence to manage offenders

In this section you will:

Critically assess police strategies for dealing with public protection incidents

Click on each button to find out more:

follow up

support services

ASSessment

REFERRAL

MARAC is a mechanism specifically focused on managing the risks associated with domestic abuse, particularly in cases where there is a high level of risk to the victim. It involves agencies such as the police, social services, healthcare professionals, and housing agencies.

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

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3.1 How MARAC and MAPPA manage offenders

The link between MARAC and MAPPA

MAPPA is a framework designed to assess and manage the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders in the community. It involves multiple agencies, including the police, probation services, prison services, and various other relevant organizations.

Levels

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information sharing

Management plans

ASSessment

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To avoid duplicating effort and resources, the work of MARAC and MAPPA should be co-ordinated in such a way as to provide the most effective response to the victim. All offenders assessed as requiring Level 2 or 3 MAPPA management must be managed through MAPPA meetings. However, it may not be necessary to hold a MARAC where victim safety planning is agreed at the MAPPA meeting. This should be agreed between the MARAC and the MAPPA meeting Chair.

Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)

3.1 How MARAC and MAPPA manage offenders

Click on the CPS logo to open up the latest data on conviction rates Read the report and answer the following questions:

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3.2 Evaluate reports and data on conviction rates for offenders

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3.2 Evaluate reports and data on conviction rates for offenders

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3.2 Evaluate reports and data on conviction rates for offenders

Click on 'identifying high risk offenders' to begin

Enhancing Public Safety

Early Intervention

Crime Analysis

Community Policing

Tailoring Interventions

Gathering information

Preventing Reoffending

Identifying High Risk Offenders

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3.3 Explore the use of community intelligence to manage offenders

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Review relevant strategies and reports that help understand the psychology of an offender’s use of position of authority to commit sexual offences

In this section you will:

Understand how offenders can use their position of authority to commit offences

Spotlight report (Abuse of position for a sexual purpose)

The Use of Police Powers to Perpetrate Sexual Violence (2012)

National Strategy to address the issue of police officers and staff who abuse their position for a sexual purpose (2017)

Click on each logo to read a summary of the report:

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4.1 Review relevant strategies and reports that help understand the psychology of an offender’s use of position of authority to commit sexual offences

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1 Media influences upon social perceptions of policing strategy 2. Link between media spotlighting and changes to police strategy 3. Effect of high-profile cases resulting in major investigations

In this section you will:

Assess the media influence upon perceptions of public protection policing strategies

The media emphasises certain aspects of stories and neglects others. This can shape public understanding of the issues invovled.

The media selects which stories to cover and how much coverage to give them. This can influence public awareness of certain issues and neglect of others. The media may focus on stories about police misconduct while neglecting stories about police successes.

The media frames stories in a way that can influence how the public interprets them. For example, the media may frame a story about a police shooting as a case of police brutality or as a necessary use of force

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framing

emphasising

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The media influences social perceptions of policing strategy by framing stories, selecting stories, and emphasising certain aspects of stories. The media can choose to show the public a positive or negative image of the police, depending on how it chooses to cover policing issues.

selection

5.1 Media influences upon social perceptions of policing strategy

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The police develop new or change existing strategies in response to public pressure

The public becomes aware of the issue or event and puts pressure on the police to take action

The media spolights a particular issue or event related to policing

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5.2 Link between media spotlighting and changes to police strategy

Assumptions

Trigger warning: The Rape and Murder of Lisa Skidmore by Leroy Campbell

Recommendations

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read the review here

5.3 Effect of high-profile cases resulting in major investigations

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1. What is the impact of sharing information under the Children Act 1989?

In this section you will:

Understand the impact Family Court can have on an investigation

Automatic disclosure of judgments

Section 98

• No guarantees of confidentiality can be given by the family court.
• The judge should give a warning when a parent is being questioned about causing harm to a child
• The family court is not involved in any decisions made in the criminal courts about whether someone should be found guilty or acquitted of any criminal offence. However, in family proceedings, the court will have to decide whether or not the allegations made against them are true.
• If they are found to be true, this would mean they have done something which may also be a criminal offence.
• If they do give evidence that suggests they have done something criminally wrong, this evidence is NOT allowed in any criminal proceedings against them UNLESS they are being prosecuted for perjury (i.e. they have lied on oath in the family court).
• The family court can give permission that ANYTHING they say or write down for proceedings may be given to the police for them to use during their investigations into their conduct AND if they did end up in a criminal court, the prosecution might make an application for permission to ask them questions about anything they said in the family court.

What does the Children's Act 1989 say?

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What do the Family Courts do?

6.1 What is the impact of sharing information under the Children Act 1989?

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6.1 What is the impact of sharing information under the Children Act 1989?

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MAPPA encourages the sharing of information among agencies to ensure that all relevant parties are aware of the offender's status and risks. This coordination helps in the supervision and management of the individual.

Information Sharing

Engagement

enforcement

Prevention

This report was published in response to a growing awareness of the problem of police officers and staff abusing their powers to perpetrate sexual violence. The strategy is based on four key principles:

intelligence

The NPCC National Strategy to Address the Issue of Police Officers and Staff Who Abuse Their Position for a Sexual Purpose (2017)

Recommendations

• Training: There are fewer opportunities for new staff to develop their skills by working with lower risk offenders. The span of control of front line managers has not reduced, but they must now be skilled in identifying and prioritising risky situations and cases from within a caseload where few present no risk.

• Standardisation: The majority of sexual offenders fall under MAPPA, with most being managed at Level 1. Concerns have been raised about the decision to manage Leroy Campbell at Level 1, and about the process whereby this decision was made. Consideration is being made as to whether the process for determining and reviewing MAPPA levels is applied consistently and robustly across the country.

• Review of professional conduct: There are no professional arrangements for the review of professional conduct in individual cases. This puts the onus on probation providers to develop and apply disciplinary procedures that cater effectively for significant professional shortcomings in individual cases.

Isolation

Stigmatisation

Trust issues

Withdrawal

Estrangement from family

Financial dependence

Impacts on Social Standing

Based on the assessment, a management plan is developed. This plan outlines how the offender will be supervised and managed in the community, including monitoring, treatment, and support services.

Management Plans

A MARAC action plan typically includes provisions for immediate protection and support for the victim, such as emergency housing, counseling, and legal assistance.

Support Services

Offender Management

• Action plan actions may also relate to what steps need to be taken as part of a MAPPA mechanism

Once a referral is made, a risk assessment is conducted to evaluate the level of risk to the victim. This assessment considers factors like the severity of abuse, the presence of children, and any history of violence.

Assessment

Offender Management

• Identifies the risk posed by an offender and informs what action may need to be taken

A MARAC referral is made when a victim of domestic abuse is deemed to be at high risk. These referrals can come from various sources, including the police, healthcare providers, or social services.

Referral

Offender Management

• Builds intelligence on perpetrators of domestic abuse
• Begins the safeguarding process of those associated with that offender

"The Family Courts in England make decisions primarily about children and finances. When a relationship breaks down and individuals are not able to agree how finances should be divided or children should be brought up very often they will ask the courts to make a decision. In the recent years it has become much more common to use alternative forms of dispute resolution instead of going to court. The method you will hear most commonly talked about is Mediation. There are other methods and these are commonly used in cases involving financial disputes following a divorce."

After the MARAC meeting, agencies involved continue to monitor and support the victim, regularly reviewing the situation to ensure ongoing safety.

Follow up

Offender Management

• Monitoring actions for the victim(s) may also link to how the offender is monitored.

When an offender is identified as presenting a risk to the public, a comprehensive risk assessment is conducted. This assessment evaluates the offender's risk level and the potential harm they may cause.

Assessment

• Reduced aspirations
• Frequent school changes or interruptions

Impact on Future Goals

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Acting out
• Aggression
• Difficulty making friends
• Bullying
• Being bullied

Social Isolation

• Decreased concentration
• Lower grades
• Missed assignments
• Frequent absences

Academic Performance

Education Impacts

Heart diseaseDiabetes Autoimmune disorders Reduced life expectancy

Long term

Self harmSubstance abuse Eating disorders

Behavioural

PTSDDepression Anxiety Self-esteem issues Self-worth issues

Mental and Emotional

BruisesCuts Broken bonesChronic Pain Sexual health issues

Physical

Health Impacts

The report found that police officers can abuse their powers to perpetrate sexual violence in a number of ways, including:

• Arresting and detaining individuals for the purpose of coercing them into sexual activity.
• Using their power to search individuals as an opportunity to touch or fondle them.
• Exploiting vulnerable people, such as victims of crime, witnesses, and people with mental health problems.
• Taking advantage of domestic violence situations to gain the trust of victims and then abuse them sexually.
• Developing corrupt relationships with members of the public in exchange for sexual favors.
• Repeatedly using their powers to perpetrate sexual violence on multiple victims.

The report made a number of recommendations to police forces about how to prevent and detect this type of abuse. These recommendations included:

• Training police officers on the issue of sexual violence and the importance of protecting vulnerable people.
• Developing clear policies and procedures for dealing with allegations of sexual violence by police officers and staff.
• Improving the way in which police forces investigate allegations of sexual violence.
• Working with other organizations, such as victim support groups and sexual violence charities, to improve the support available to victims.

The Use of Police Powers to Perpetrate Sexual Violence Report 2012

Memory distortions

Recall difficulties

Fragmented memories

Traumatic Amnesia

Confabulation

Flashbacks

Intrusive memories

Memory gaps

Impacts on Memory

In short, the HMICFRS Spotlight Report on Abuse of a Position for a Sexual Purpose found that police forces need to do more to prevent, detect and respond to this type of abuse. The report made a number of recommendations to police forces, including:

• Providing more training
• Developing clearer policies and procedures for dealing with allegations
• Creating a culture where officers feel comfortable reporting concerns
• Being more aware of the signs of abuse
• Having effective systems in place for reporting and investigating allegations
• Providing better support to victims

Spotlight report (Abuse of position for a sexual purpose)

Effect of Assumptions

It is crucial that staff regard public protection as paramount and do not make assumptions about the risk posed by an offender. Offenders must be given a chance to show motivation to change, but decisions about risk levels should be made only after a careful assessment. Although positive improvements and motivation to change can indicate a reduction in risk of re-offending and serious harm, that is not always the case. The following are common beguiling assumptions: • the passage of time since an offence was committed automatically decreases risk; • if an offender is pleasant, courteous and punctual, their risk of re-offending or causing serious harm has changed; • progress made by an offender automatically means a lower risk of re-offending; • compliance with the requirements of their sentence means they will not offend (false compliance may conceal significantly elevated risk) • good progress in custody is always an indicator expected progression in the community on eventual release (especially during the early days of release when different environments and pressures can be a factor)

MAPPA offenders are managed at one of three levels according to the extent of agency involvement needed and the number of different agencies involved. The great majority are managed at level 1 (ordinary agency management). This involves the sharing of information but does not require multi-agency meetings. The others are managed at level 2 if an active multi-agency approach is required (MAPPA meetings), and at level 3 if senior representatives of the relevant agencies with the authority to commit resources are also needed.

Levels