7. VICTIM WORK
7.1 Part of the management of any offender is the identification of past victims and of individuals who are currently at risk. The Risk Management Plans which are drawn up at the MAPPA meetings require significant attention to be given to the offender, but they also look at the needs and requirements of victims and potential victims, including protective factors which can be established on their behalf. Restrictions are often placed (and robustly enforced) on offenders to exclude them from areas their victims live or work and to prevent them from any form of contact or intimidation. This can be done as part of a licence requirement on release from prison or as a condition of a Sex Offender Prevention Order ( SOPO).
7.2 In all cases, potential victims are also identified as part of the MAPPA processes and steps taken within Risk Management Plans to reduce victim access.
7.3 Victims can also be offered more personal protection including alarms which are monitored and linked directly to the police, changes in locks and in extreme cases, cameras which cover their home.
7.4 Within Northern CJA, it is recognised that Victim organisations need to have a stronger voice and this is likely to be actively pursued as a strategic objective for the coming year by the local MAPPA strategic group.