Introduction to PPANI

What is PPANI?

PPANI is an acronym for the public protection arrangements in Northern Ireland, which were introduced in October 2008 to make more effective the work the police, probation and others do to manage the risks posed by certain sexual and violent offenders when they are released from prison into the community. PPANI is not a statutory body in itself but a structure that enables agencies to undertake their statutory duties and coordinate their functions to enhance public protection.

Historical Context

Since 2001, there have been similar multi agency arrangements in place in Northern Ireland, known as multi agency sex offender risk assessment and management (MASRAM). These were voluntary arrangements, which brought together police, probation, prisons, housing and social services. In October 2008, the arrangements were provided for in law, which means that specified agencies now have a legal duty to cooperate and share information to help assess and manage risk. Article 50 of the Criminal Justice (N.I.) Order 2008, specifies the agencies which have a duty to co-operate to ensure effective assessment and management of the risks posed by certain sexual and violent offenders.

About

How do these agencies contribute to public protection?

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Operationally the PSNI adminster the arrangements through the PPANI Links team who manage the referrals into PPANI and co-ordinate the LAPPP meetings. PSNI also undertake the Designated Risk Manager role with all categories of PPANI offenders. PSNI jointly manage the Public Protection Team with PBNI. PSNI are also involved in the delivery of training to multi-agency staff involved in the PPANI process.

Probation Board for Northern Ireland

Operationally PBNI chair and manage the multi-agency LAPPP meetings. PBNI staff undertake the Designated Risk Manager role with all categories of PPANI offenders. PBNI jointly manage the Public Protection Team with PSNI. PBNI provide treatment programmes for PPANI offenders who are also subject to Probation supervision. PBNI are also involved in the delivery of training to multi-agency staff involved in PPANI process.

Northern Ireland Prison Service

The NIPS provides important information through regular monitoring of the behaviour of offenders in custody, which is vital to the risk assessment and management process. NIPS also undertake the Designated Risk Manager role for those prisoners who will be subject to PPANI on release from prison.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

The co-operation of both social and private housing providers is essential in the delivery of individual risk management plans and controlled information exchange is therefore vital. Given the importance of accommodation in the assessment and management of risk, NIHE representatives make an important contribution to the public protection arrangements.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to children

The NSPCC representation ensures there is an independent child protection viewpoint. The NSPCC representative on the SMB chairs the Victims Advisory Sub Group.

Department Of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Operationally all 5 Health and Social Care Trusts have an identified Principal Social Worker who has responsibilty to attend LAPPP meetings in their Trust area and ensure any child and vulnreable adult protection issues are addressed. They also attend pre release LAPPP meetings which take place in the prisons. The Principal Officers are involved in all LAPPP meetings, attend each of SMB subgroups as well as involved in the delivery of PPANI training within their Trust areas. Trust Principal Officers maintain regular contact with their Health colleagues within their Trusts. If a PPANI offender has significant health or social care needs, health personnel will jointly undertake the DRM role with PSNI or PBNI colleagues.

The Principal Officer for each Trust is:

TRUST	NAME	CONTACT NUMBER	EMAIL
BELFAST	James Douglas Patricia McKeever	028 95 048502 028 95 048502	james.Douglas@belfasttrust.hscni.net patricia.McKeever@belfasttrust.hscni.net
WESTERN	Ursula McElroy	028 82 83 5021	ursula.mcelroy@westerntrust.hscni.net
SOUTHERN	Lynsey Hewitt	028 3756 6113	lynsey.hewitt@southerntrust.hscni.net
SOUTH EASTERN	Maria Canning	028 92 50 1358	maria.canning@setrust.hscni.net

Youth Justice Agency

The YJA cooperates with other agencies for those young persons under 18 years of age whose risks to the community, in exceptional cases, are to be addressed within the public protection arrangements.

Department of Education/Education and Library Boards

The Department of Education cooperates with other relevant agencies and provides advices on policy, guidance and legislative developments, which relate specifically to protecting children and vulnerable adults.

Department for Social Development

The Department can contribute to the public protection agenda by sharing information about social security benefit and child maintenance details, which can assist the police in locating offenders who fail to comply with risk management plans.

Introduction to PPANI

What is PPANI?

Historical Context

About

PPANI is the Public Protection Arrangements in Northern Ireland which were introduced in October 2008.

How do these agencies contribute to public protection?

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Probation Board for Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Prison Service

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to children

Department Of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

TRUST

NAME

CONTACT NUMBER

EMAIL

BELFAST

WESTERN

SOUTHERN

SOUTH EASTERN

Youth Justice Agency

Department of Education/Education and Library Boards

Department for Social Development