Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) in Scotland: national overview report 2021/2022

4. Risk Management Authority

The Risk Management Authority (RMA) continues to promote effective practice in risk assessment and management to support public protection in Scotland. Collaboration is key to ensuring a shared understanding of risk and best practice. In 2021-22 the RMA have positively contributed to a number of national working groups and continued to deliver and progress key relevant business objectives.

Risk Practice Course

Whilst public health advice and guidance related to COVID-19 continued to impact ability to deliver face-to-face training across 2021-22, the RMA responded by adapting products and facilitating events online via a virtual platform. The social work course was delivered in August 2021 and February 2022 to a total of 24 justice social workers. Additionally, the RMA worked with Police Scotland to deliver two events in April and one in August 2021 to 32 police colleagues. As restrictions began to ease in early 2022, this has informed planned future delivery that is intended to be a blend of online and face-to-face in 2022-23.

Internet Offending Assessment Framework

The RMA continued to work with others to develop the internet offending assessment framework during 2021-22. In July 2021, a two-year pilot of the framework was agreed between the RMA and Scottish Government. In September 2021, the framework was finalised and associated guidance was developed. This led to applications for piloting being received and evaluated in December 2021. Eight areas across Scotland were selected to pilot (South Ayrshire, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, Edinburgh, East Lothian and the Tayside Partnership areas of Dundee, Angus, Perth and Kinross).

The RMA also established an associated multi-agency working group including representatives from the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, Justice Social Work and the Forensic Network, as well as experts in the field from academia.

Arrangements for training the pilot areas were agreed and were scheduled for May and June 2022. The pilot will test reliability, validity, and user friendliness of the proposed framework, and provide assurance that the framework can support the expected outcomes.

Counter Terrorism and Sentencing Act 2021

Terrorism is one of the most serious challenges facing the world today. Counter-Terrorism remains a significant area of work for the RMA. We continue to work with other justice agencies to ensure Scotland's approach to terrorism risk assessment and management is evidence-based and proportionate.

In 2021-22, the RMA conducted and published two rapid reviews of literature relating to counter-terrorism. The reviews, – A Review of Risk Assessment Tools and Risk Factors Relevant to Terrorism and A Review of Risk Management Approaches Relevant to Terrorism and Radicalisation, are expected to be of interest to justice partners in both the United Kingdom and internationally.

The RMA will continue to contribute to the Prisons Oversight Group and associated sub-groups for the Management of TACT Offenders in 2022-23, to ensure that risk assessment and management processes have been carefully considered.