November 2024 Public Protection Consolidated

Public Protection (Consolidated PEQF Content)

November 2024

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.

START

Objectives for this session:

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.

Understand the impact Family Court can have on an investigation

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

Assess the media influence upon perceptions of public protection policing strategies

Critically assess the impact of abuse upon victims

In this section you will:

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

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

Hover over each area to find out more

1. Abuse

4. Behaviour Change

3. Self-blame

2. Depression

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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

Click on each image to find out more

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

Match the Examples to the Tactics

Controlling access to buy silence

Intimidation and Threats

Preventing the victim from working

Undermining Confidence

Humiliation, ridicule and shaming

Humiliation, ridicule and shaming

Using the Children

Using words like 'only' and 'just'

Isolation

Causing fear through threats

Minimisation and Denial

Check Answers

Find out more

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

Here are the answers

Causing fear through threats

Intimidation and Threats

Humiliation, ridicule and shaming

Undermining Confidence

Humiliation, ridicule and shaming

Controlling access to buy silence

Using the Children

Preventing the victim from working

Isolation

Using words like 'only' and 'just'

Minimisation and Denial

Next

Find out more

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

In this section you will:

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

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

Cybercrime

Human Trafficking

Violence and Gangs

Drug and Substance Abuse

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.

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

Firearms and Weapons

Terrorism

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Money Laundering

2.2 Evaluate disruption and detection strategies

Click the icon next to each strategy to find out more

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2.2 Evaluate disruption and detection strategies

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Critically assess police strategies for dealing with public protection incidents

In this section you will:

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

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3.1 How MARAC and MAPPA manage offenders

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

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.

Click on each button to find out more:

support services

REFERRAL

ASSessment

follow up

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3.1 How MARAC and MAPPA manage offenders

Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (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.

The link between MARAC and MAPPA

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.

Click on each button to find out more:

information sharing

Management plans

ASSessment

Levels

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3.2 Evaluate reports and data on conviction rates for 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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3.3 Explore the use of community intelligence to manage offenders

Click on 'identifying high risk offenders' to begin

Community Policing

Identifying High Risk Offenders

Crime Analysis

Preventing Reoffending

Early Intervention

Gathering information

Enhancing Public Safety

Tailoring Interventions

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

In this section you will:

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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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

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

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

Spotlight report (Abuse of position for a sexual purpose)

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

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Assess the media influence upon perceptions of public protection policing strategies

In this section you will:

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

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5.1 Media influences upon social perceptions of policing strategy

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.

Click each arrow to find out more:

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

framing

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.

selection

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

emphasising

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5.2 Link between media spotlighting and changes to police strategy

Click to reveal each stage:

The media spolights a particular issue or event related to policing

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

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

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5.3 Effect of high-profile cases resulting in major investigations

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

Recommendations

read the review here

Assumptions

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Understand the impact Family Court can have on an investigation

In this section you will:

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

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Return TO OBJECTIVES

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

What do the Family Courts do?

What does the Children's Act 1989 say?

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.

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

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End of Unit

Home

Information Sharing

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.

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

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:

Prevention

intelligence

enforcement

Engagement

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.

Impacts on Social Standing

Withdrawal

Isolation

Estrangement from family

Trust issues

Financial dependence

Stigmatisation

Management Plans

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.

Support Services

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

Offender Management

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

Assessment

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.

Offender Management

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

Referral

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.

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."

Follow up

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

Offender Management

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

Assessment

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.

Education Impacts

Impact on Future Goals

Academic Performance

Social Isolation

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

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

• Reduced aspirations
• Frequent school changes or interruptions

Health Impacts

Behavioural

Long term

Mental and Emotional

PTSDDepression Anxiety Self-esteem issues Self-worth issues

Physical

BruisesCuts Broken bonesChronic Pain Sexual health issues

Heart diseaseDiabetes Autoimmune disorders Reduced life expectancy

Self harmSubstance abuse Eating disorders

The Use of Police Powers to Perpetrate Sexual Violence Report 2012

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.

Impacts on Memory

Memory distortions

Flashbacks

Fragmented memories

Intrusive memories

Confabulation

Traumatic Amnesia

Memory gaps

Recall difficulties

Spotlight report (Abuse of position for a sexual purpose)

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

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)

Levels

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.