MAPPA and Controlling & Coercive Behaviour

What is MAPPA? 

Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) is a framework designed to manage individuals convicted of serious offences, including violent and sexual crimes. Established under Section 325 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, MAPPA ensures that agencies such as the police, probation services, and local authorities work together to assess and manage the risk posed by high-risk offenders in the community. 

MAPPA applies to various categories of offenders: 

• Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) – Individuals subject to notification requirements under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. 
• Violent Offenders – Those convicted of a violent offence and sentenced to twelve months or more in prison. 
• Other Dangerous Offenders – Individuals deemed to pose a serious risk to the public. 

Research conducted by Anglia Ruskin University indicates that reoffending rates for individuals managed under MAPPA are less than half of the national average. The one-year reoffending rate for MAPPA is 12.2%, while the national overall one-year reoffending rates range between 30.0% and 31.3% during a similar timeframe. 

Over recent years, offenders convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour (CCB) have increasingly come under MAPPA management due to the serious risks they pose to victims and the public. 

What Is Controlling & Coercive Behaviour? 

Controlling and coercive behaviour is a form of domestic abuse where an offender exerts power, control, and manipulation over another person, often a partner or ex-partner. It became a specific criminal offence under Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015, recognising that abuse is not always physical but can involve: 

• Isolation from friends and family. 
• Monitoring movements and restricting personal freedom. 
• Financial control and economic abuse. 
• Emotional, psychological, and verbal abuse. 

Changes to MAPPA for those convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour 

With domestic abuse cases rising, there has been growing pressure to expand MAPPA’s scope to ensure that offenders convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour are routinely managed under its framework.  

Offenders convicted of controlling or coercive behaviour, and sentenced to twelve months or longer, will now be automatically managed under multi-agency public protection arrangements. This means agencies are legally required to cooperate to better manage the risks posed by these serious offenders, recognising the significant harm this kind of offending can cause.   

For the first time, it puts controlling or coercive behaviour on a par with other domestic abuse offences including threats to kill, attempted strangulation and stalking 

How MAPPA Manages Offenders Convicted of Controlling & Coercive Behaviour 

MAPPA is increasingly being used to monitor offenders convicted of domestic abuse-related offences, including controlling and coercive behaviour, due to the significant risk of reoffending.  

Once an offender is released from custody, MAPPA agencies work together to: 

• Assess the Level of Risk – Offenders are assigned a MAPPA category and risk level, which determines the level of monitoring required. 
• Impose Licence Conditions – High-risk offenders may be subject to strict licence conditions, such as: exclusion zones preventing them from going near the victim’s home or workplace, electronic tagging and curfews to monitor movements, restrictions on contacting victims or using social media. 
• Multi-Agency Supervision – Regular meetings between police, probation, and social services ensure risk is continuously assessed. 
• Victim Protection Measures – MAPPA considers the ongoing safety of victims, providing updates where appropriate and ensuring support services are in place. 

MAPPA plays a crucial role in protecting the public and victims from dangerous offenders. As the legal system increasingly recognises the seriousness of controlling and coercive behaviour, MAPPA will continue to be a vital tool in ensuring offenders are properly monitored, reducing the risk of further harm. 

Evidence shows offenders who are managed under multi-agency public protection arrangements have a reoffending rate less than half of the national average 

The law change means even more domestic abusers will fall under this management, in which agencies are legally required to share any information which indicates increased risk to others, such as former partners or members of the public. 

Why Choose Olliers   

We are specialist criminal defence lawyers, experienced in handling domestic allegations with a discreet & strategic approach. We have a formidable reputation in pre-charge engagement success with many cases resolved before reaching court. We also have an excellent track record in court and are experienced in securing acquittals and case dismissals.  

If you are facing an allegation of controlling and coercive behaviour whether you have been asked to attend for voluntary interview, released under investigation or police bail or been charged with an offence and have a court date please contact us to discuss further. 

We have offices in both London and Manchester and our specialist team of domestic assault lawyers can advise and represent you in relation to your case. 

If you would like to explore how Olliers can assist you, please contact our specialist team by telephone on 020 3883 6790 (London), 0161 834 1515 (Manchester), via email at info@olliers.com or complete the website form below and we will contact you for a confidential discussion.