All convicted child sex offenders are liable to management under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). Most will be subject to notification requirements (sex offender registration) on release from prison, and those who were sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment or more will generally be subject to licence conditions, breach of which can lead to recall to prison. In addition, some may be subject to Sexual Offence Prevention Orders (SOPOs), which can be imposed where a court deems that the offender poses a risk of serious sexual harm. As with licence conditions, SOPOs can impose restrictions on behaviour, such as staying away from the victim or from schools. Breach of a SOPO is a criminal offence and would make the offender liable to a maximum of five years’ imprisonment.
The twin aims of the MAPPA are to protect the public and to prevent re-victimisation. While offenders will generally be released to their home area, where the offence may have been committed, consideration will be given to an exclusion zone, in the light of specific risks to the victim and also to the impact the return might have locally.
Local housing authorities are under a statutory duty to co-operate with Responsible Authority in the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). The Responsible Authority has to establish arrangements for the identification, assessment and management of sexual and violent offenders. The aim is to facilitate an exchange of information between the agencies and to ensure that the local housing authority is on hand to give advice about accommodation and the procedures by which it is allocated, and the suitability of particular housing stock both generally and in relation to particular cases.