Multi-agency management of risks from convicted terrorist offenders ‘important’ for community safety

A multi-agency approach to the assessment and management of risks posed by men and women convicted of terrorist related offences has been found to make an important contribution to community supervision and community safety in Northern Ireland.

The independent review of the effectiveness of the Multi-Agency Review Arrangements, known as MARA, provided by the Department of Justice (DoJ), His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), was carried out by Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI) at the request of the Minister of Justice.

“Effectively managing the risks to our community from terrorist offenders requires real collaboration and strong partnerships. The public rightly expects this will be exercised professionally and robustly both in prison and the community,” said James Corrigan, Acting Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland.

“The current and future threats to our community are not just from Northern Ireland related terrorism, so our risk management arrangements need to be fit for purpose and ready to respond to our constantly changing world.

“Inspectors found the current arrangements established in 2021 following the withdrawal of supervision services by the Probation Board for Northern Ireland after a threat against their staff, benefitted from strong relationships, specialist and dedicated staff and a bespoke risk assessment tool that reflected local circumstances,” he said.

“The involvement of HMPPS Supervising Officers filled a critical gap after the withdrawal of local probation services.  However, the development of respectful, productive relationships that support rehabilitation and risk management has meant that mostly, Supervising Officers were able to engage effectively with the men and women under their supervision.

“The work of Police Officers engaged in supporting the effective management of people under the MARA arrangements was a particular strength,” said the Acting Chief Inspector.

However, Inspectors found there was no overarching vision, strategy or long-term plan for the MARA arrangements and that clear objectives, performance indicators and measures of success also needed to be established.

The absence of an overarching policy framework within the NIPS to guide the management of men and women subject to MARA had led to uncertainty within the organisation.

Inspectors also identified a need for clarity on the role of the NIPS’s Prisoner Development Unit and HMPPS Supervising Officers on the work needed in custody to address all offending behaviour, planning for release and transition back into the community.

The Acting Chief Inspector said work was also required to develop more effective information‑sharing and case recording arrangements to better support risk management.

“This Review found that overall, MARA provide an appropriate framework for the management of risks posed by individuals convicted of terrorist-related offences.

“I have made three Strategic and five Operational recommendations aimed at strengthening the current arrangements along with consideration by all relevant parties of what needs to be put in place to enable the design of a future service delivery model with local Supervising Officers,” said Mr Corrigan.