Risk panels for potentially dangerous adults and young persons

The PDP and YRP aim to:

• provide a mechanism to consider offender management of individuals who are believed to be a risk
• use problem-solving skills to consider ways to reduce the risk that the individuals present
• provide a proactive approach to offender management aiming to reduce the number of victims of crime

• reduction in reoffending
• reduction in the number of victims of crime
• prevention of cases becoming multi-agency public protection arrangements (MAPPA) eligible or requiring MAPPA management

Internal referrals are made to the PDP panel and YRP by officers who have concerns around an individual they have encountered, usually around risk of sexual or physical violence.

PDP panel

A weekly threshold meeting is held in  management of sexual offenders and violent offenders (MOSOVO) to discuss the referrals on a case-by-case basis to ensure there is enough information and availability from the referrer to take to the panel.

The referral form asks:

• why the individual is being referred to the panel
• what the risk is
• who is at risk
• if there are any aggravating factors
• known patterns of behaviour
• if the individual is known to social care
• if there are any previous convictions or intelligence
• if there are any live investigations and outcomes

The PDP panel is chaired by the MOSOVO detective inspector on a weekly basis and is attended by several core panel representatives including:

• detective inspectors
• detective chief inspectors
• child protection services
• criminal investigations department (CID)
• rape investigations team
• domestic abuse investigations team
• child exploitation team
• MOSOVO team

At the panel, the referrer, usually a police or detective constable, will outline:

• the concerns around the individual
• any live investigations, outcomes or actions
• any history involving the nominal
• why they have referred in to the PDP

The case is then discussed. There are possible three outcomes:

• no adoption – full ownership remains with officer in charge (OIC) but investigative or suspect management advice is given
• no adoption – the panel maintains oversight and case will be brought back to the panel to ensure all relevant departments take away the relevant actions and are held accountable for the risk
• adoption – MOSOVO maintain ownership

The panel chair makes the final decision on adoption, considering the views shared by the pane and an offender manager will be allocated in accordance with force policy.

If an individual is adopted as a PDP, they are allocated to an offender manager within MOSOVO to complete the risk assessment based on their expertise and skill set and outline any actions that need to be completed within an eight-week window. 

The force usually knows little about these individuals but is aware of predatory behaviour or violent/stalking tendencies. It is therefore deemed essential to engage with them as soon as possible. Some of these may be more disruptive plans and others may be more supportive with linking in with support services.

Every adopted PDP should have a risk management plan recorded on ViSOR (violent and sex offender register). This is a national, secure database where all registered sex offenders managed are recorded and updated. This responsibility sits within MOSOVO. If an individual has domestic abuse or sexual convictions, they would not be suitable for the programme.

Currently, there is a detective sergeant and a risk management officer working on the PDP programme, which is known internally to Northamptonshire Police as Operation Airforce. In September 2025, the team will be joined by a police constable.

YRP

YRP was created in 2025 following on from the PDP. the PDP programme brought to attention the need for a separate child referral pathway that did not criminalise them unnecessarily or have them added to VISOR.

The YRP is heard once a month and has additional stakeholders from outside of the police joining, including social care and youth offending services.

The PDP programme has been running for one year. Longer term, the force will obtain data around the PDP individuals that went on to commit further crime and those who did not. The force currently has approximately 20 individuals within the programme. The main purpose is to prevent potentially dangerous persons from becoming dangerous.

Feedback from officers has been extremely positive. Officers are getting guidance from a wealth of knowledge in areas of expertise from the panel, and in some cases risk management is being reallocated appropriately so they can focus on the investigation.

The YRP was created to fulfil the need for a child focussed process, as outlined in the PDP description.  

The force highlights the need to share good work with the wider force, so a bi-annual good news story will highlight positive case examples through the PDP and YRP processes.