First reported 29 Mar 2017•Latest report 13 Mar 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the dedicated high-risk-offender release process, including sentencing and release-risk information for courts, release-date communication, alerts to relevant agencies, release planning, accommodation suitability and coordination of protective arrangements where these directly affect safe release.
Not included
Excludes general community monitoring or supervision failures after release where no deficiency in the release arrangements themselves is identified.
Excludes generic probation, police or prison communication, training or staffing deficiencies unless they directly impair high-risk-offender release arrangements.
Excludes sentence-calculation or recall-process failures unless they directly affect the safety of a high-risk offender's release decision or arrangements.
Excludes failures concerning ordinary prisoner release where the high-risk-offender safety qualifier is not supported.
Excludes downstream offending or harm where no deficiency in the high-risk-offender release process is identified.
Reports
6
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
7
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2017–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
14
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
HM Prison and Probation Service3
Ministry of Justice3
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
G4S1
Home Office1
Lancashire Constabulary1
Liverpool City Council1
Recipient name withheld1
Swansea Bay University Local Health Board1
West Midlands Police1
Executive agency3
Ministerial department3
Police force2
English metropolitan district council1
Local health board1
NHS trust1
Prison operator1
Type not available1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Lack of cross-agency provisions and guidance for release planning of high-risk prisoners with mental health difficulties
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.12
Action
Introduce resettlement-services drop-in sessions for prisoners approaching release.
Stated by G4SStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Roll out remote resettlement-services sessions using approved laptops.
Stated by G4SStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Require offender managers to notify Community Offender Managers about sentence-end releases involving no fixed abode and provide release-destination information.
Stated by G4SStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Include the BSMHFT MAPPA Clinical Lead in developing a sustainable MAPPA engagement strategy and identifying alternative arrangements for gaps.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Review the Prison Discharge Coordinator job description, role scope and potential additional resource requirements.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Review the Prison In-reach and CMHT interaction process, complete a gap analysis and develop a plan to strengthen continuity of care.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Implement an improved referral and discharge procedure through the updated standard operating protocol.
Stated by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Hold formal admission handovers and pre-release meetings with transferring mental-health teams or prisons and relevant agencies.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Conduct multidisciplinary pre-discharge reviews and formal pre-release planning meetings four to six weeks before known release dates.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Provide policing support to partners concerning high-risk prisoners with mental health difficulties released at sentence end.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Revise and reissue the sentence-end-date release practice document, and embed its expectations in staff development sessions.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Action
Promote the NHS Reconnect Service to probation practitioners to support referrals for through-the-gate transition support.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 March 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.7
Position
Concerns about SystmOne, cross-agency release guidance and the MAPPA discharge coordinator fall outside G4S’s power to address.
Stated by G4SOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
G4S cannot influence release management or interagency working at private prisons operated by other providers or HMPPS.
Stated by G4SOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Other interested persons addressed by the report are better placed to consider concerns 2, 3 and 4 and determine any response.
Stated by G4SRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
HMPPS is responsible for providing and operating resettlement services, which are delivered by HMPPS-commissioned external providers.
Stated by G4SRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
The Health Board lacks jurisdiction or power over the cross-agency actions required for release planning at sentence end.
Stated by Swansea Bay University Local Health BoardOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
HMPPS will address cross-agency guidance for releasing high-risk prisoners with mental health difficulties at sentence end.
Stated by West Midlands PoliceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Probation has no statutory authority to supervise prisoners released into the community at sentence expiry.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Concerns raised1
Failure to ensure that licence conditions requiring attendance with a specific practitioner are suitable and operational before release
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Manchester South
Concerns raised2
Failure to ensure safe release from custody for high-risk offenders eligible for immediate release after very short custodial sentences
Lack of guidance for sentencing participants on minimising risks to the public
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen
Concerns raised1
Lack of mandated joined-up inter-agency communication at offender release or when new personal relationships develop
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Refresh MASH staff messaging periodically on identifying life-licensed perpetrators as high risk and sharing referral information to prompt safeguarding action.
Stated by Lancashire ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 9 September 2019.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
The Pan-Lancashire MARAC operating protocol already addresses urgent referrals and high-risk prioritisation for relevant offenders.
Stated by Lancashire ConstabularyExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Responsibility for referring relevant life-licensed offenders to MARAC lies with the offender manager.
Stated by Lancashire ConstabularyRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Existing MASH arrangements provide research, information sharing and referral of life-licensed perpetrators to relevant agencies, including Probation and Social Care.
Stated by Lancashire ConstabularyExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised1
Lack of a mechanism to alert other agencies when high-risk offenders are released after completing their full sentence
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Write guidance on sentence termination activity, including expectations for sharing offender plans with other agencies under lawful information-sharing practice.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 16 October 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
After sentence termination, probation has no responsibility or powers to manage the offender.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Where no organisation remains in contact with an offender, information cannot be passed on at sentence termination.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Police decide whether to disclose pertinent risk information to relevant agencies in other situations.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Liverpool and the Wirral
Concerns raised1
Failure to refer or admit high risk offenders only to accommodation capable of appropriately managing their risks
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Includes failures in the dedicated high-risk-offender release process, including sentencing and release-risk information for courts, release-date communication, alerts to relevant agencies, release planning, accommodation suitability and coordination of protective arrangements where these directly affect safe release.
