Risk factors
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Hi hope someone can help. On getting home from work my OH told me he had the ad hoc police visit today. He sounded quite pleased, that next year, on the third anniversary they will only visit once a year (the police let him do the signing in as per SOR, so he does not need to actually go to the police station) instead of the twice a year at the moment. This is because from the third year they will deem him low risk. I have always presumed he is low risk, but this must mean he is either medium or high! What do the risks mean. I dont know why but it has really freaked me out. Does anyone know what the risk factors mean? Thanks
There are about 9 or 10 individual risk factors that the police use, but they have to boil it down to one word - low, medium or high. A bit like Ofsted rating schools good or inadequate, so it's rather misleading.
Most people start as medium, just because the police don't know enough about them at that stage. After a few visits, the VISOR can usually work out whether they are going to be a risk of reoffending, based more on gut instinct than anything else.
Co-operating with the police and with probation is probably the biggest indication of whether someone will be considered a risk or not. Follow the rules, don't be confrontational and don't try to hide anything from them and after a year or two, you will probably be moved to low risk.
Most people start as medium, just because the police don't know enough about them at that stage. After a few visits, the VISOR can usually work out whether they are going to be a risk of reoffending, based more on gut instinct than anything else.
Co-operating with the police and with probation is probably the biggest indication of whether someone will be considered a risk or not. Follow the rules, don't be confrontational and don't try to hide anything from them and after a year or two, you will probably be moved to low risk.
I did some research on risk and how police and probation assess the risk level. There are some static factors like age at the time of offending, length of time that they offended for and something else that I can't remember. Then there are the factors that can change such as employment, relationships with a partner, family and friends, mental health etc.
I've not heard anything about the 3 year mark being significant in reducing risk but have read material that suggests 5 years offence free is significant which makes sense with most receiving 5 year SHPO and SOR. I'll try to find the information and pop it on over the next couple of days xxx
I've not heard anything about the 3 year mark being significant in reducing risk but have read material that suggests 5 years offence free is significant which makes sense with most receiving 5 year SHPO and SOR. I'll try to find the information and pop it on over the next couple of days xxx
Thank you for the replies.
My OH has always complied with everything that has been asked of him. I suppose it is because i presumed, wrongly as it turns out, he was low risk. He has only had two visits per year where i have heard people having more so just thought this meant he was low. Obviously not. He had a ten year SOR and shpo
My OH has always complied with everything that has been asked of him. I suppose it is because i presumed, wrongly as it turns out, he was low risk. He has only had two visits per year where i have heard people having more so just thought this meant he was low. Obviously not. He had a ten year SOR and shpo
Slightly off topic, on the subject of police visits. We have had I think 3 visits in 7 months. All attended with his PO. Non are unannounced. Should we expect unannounced visits (I assumed we would, just not sure where this sits with the semi regular home visits)?
I think all areas do things differently. My OH has only ever had unannouced visits. The police and PO jointly visited, again unannounced, at the beginning. We were told they were unannounced so thatnothing could be hidden for a visit. Quite what could be hidden i dont know as his phone is checked and sometimes his PC.
It's true to say that each force is different, but the national guidelines are one visit per year for low risk, two for medium and four per year for high risk. Very high risk people are visited once a month.
All visits should be unannounced, although the Met have not been following this, and there should be two officers on each visit, but many areas only send one. The officers should be VISOR specialists and not in uniform, although I've heard that some areas are using non VISORs and sometimes send uniformed ones, which they should not do.
It will all come down to shortage of staff and hitting their targets. Many areas now have a backlog of overdue visits, so are more likely to cut corners.
All visits should be unannounced, although the Met have not been following this, and there should be two officers on each visit, but many areas only send one. The officers should be VISOR specialists and not in uniform, although I've heard that some areas are using non VISORs and sometimes send uniformed ones, which they should not do.
It will all come down to shortage of staff and hitting their targets. Many areas now have a backlog of overdue visits, so are more likely to cut corners.
I've tried to find the document which shows how the risk scoring is calculated but it's been withdrawn. My son was deemed medium risk which I was initially concerned about but after reading the document I realised that was the lowest he could have scored due to his offence, age etc.
Communicating has always been regarded as a contact offence. Recently contact offences have been split into direct and indirect contact but I haven't been able to find the scoring for this change.
I have attached a link here for anyone that's interested https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65bcc5d963a23d000dc820ec/actuarial-prediction-sexual-reoffending-policy-addedndum.pdf
As far as the ViSOR visits go, my son has unannounced visists. As he hadnt been home on a couple of occasions when they tried to visit they asked him to give them some days and times when he would be around in the following week. So although they are unannounced he knew to expect a visit. They are always plain clothed. On the last visit the probation officer came with the ViSOR offender manager but prior to this it had always been 2 people from the ViSOR team.
Webb, try not to overthink the risk category as it comes down to a scoring matrix and doesn't take into account the individuals personality, remorse, recovery, work on themselves etc.
Communicating has always been regarded as a contact offence. Recently contact offences have been split into direct and indirect contact but I haven't been able to find the scoring for this change.
I have attached a link here for anyone that's interested https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65bcc5d963a23d000dc820ec/actuarial-prediction-sexual-reoffending-policy-addedndum.pdf
As far as the ViSOR visits go, my son has unannounced visists. As he hadnt been home on a couple of occasions when they tried to visit they asked him to give them some days and times when he would be around in the following week. So although they are unannounced he knew to expect a visit. They are always plain clothed. On the last visit the probation officer came with the ViSOR offender manager but prior to this it had always been 2 people from the ViSOR team.
Webb, try not to overthink the risk category as it comes down to a scoring matrix and doesn't take into account the individuals personality, remorse, recovery, work on themselves etc.
There's huge amount of statistical data on reoffending, but almost none of it is ever used by people on the frontline.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449357/research-analysis-offender-assessment-system.pdf
Probation and police both rely on face to face interviews for their risk assessments. The scoring is a tick box exercise. It's only when they actually meet the person and talk to them, that they decide what to make of them.
The biggest problem they face is that this new breed of internet only offenders do not fit into their boxes, which were designed for what I would call 'traditional' criminals.
The 'typical' offender used to be a single, unemployed, drug or drink addict, who came from a broken home, had anger managment/impulsivity issues and an anti social personality disorder.
Internet offenders are usually employed (often in very high paid professional occupations), they are mostly in stable relationships, do not have drug or drink problems, had relatively stable childhoods and are not anti social, or angry people.
They are law abiding citizens in all aspects of their lives, except for their internet use.
There is something about the internet, that transforms people into criminals and the risk assessment tools haven't really figured out what that is yet.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449357/research-analysis-offender-assessment-system.pdf
Probation and police both rely on face to face interviews for their risk assessments. The scoring is a tick box exercise. It's only when they actually meet the person and talk to them, that they decide what to make of them.
The biggest problem they face is that this new breed of internet only offenders do not fit into their boxes, which were designed for what I would call 'traditional' criminals.
The 'typical' offender used to be a single, unemployed, drug or drink addict, who came from a broken home, had anger managment/impulsivity issues and an anti social personality disorder.
Internet offenders are usually employed (often in very high paid professional occupations), they are mostly in stable relationships, do not have drug or drink problems, had relatively stable childhoods and are not anti social, or angry people.
They are law abiding citizens in all aspects of their lives, except for their internet use.
There is something about the internet, that transforms people into criminals and the risk assessment tools haven't really figured out what that is yet.
Hi all,
My person is the father of my children - we are not together. He's sees the children at the moment. He hasn't been charged yet but will definitely have a SHPO.
I'm anxious about the ad hock visits. As they are unannounced I'm worried it will happen when my children are there. How do they conduct the visit. I'd obviously rather they weren't there at all but have to face facts that they may be. Just another way it affects us all!
Are they sensitive if children are around.?
Thank you
My person is the father of my children - we are not together. He's sees the children at the moment. He hasn't been charged yet but will definitely have a SHPO.
I'm anxious about the ad hock visits. As they are unannounced I'm worried it will happen when my children are there. How do they conduct the visit. I'd obviously rather they weren't there at all but have to face facts that they may be. Just another way it affects us all!
Are they sensitive if children are around.?
Thank you
Hi,
I don't have experience of being there when they visit but I have read on here that they are discreet if the person has guests and will just excuse themselves and come back another day.
We are 3 and a half years post sentencing and I've met his offender manager twice and spoken to her on the phone a couple of times. The meetings were planned and to discuss our plans ahead of going back to ss. She has always been very respectful. I hope this helps to put your mind at ease xxx
I don't have experience of being there when they visit but I have read on here that they are discreet if the person has guests and will just excuse themselves and come back another day.
We are 3 and a half years post sentencing and I've met his offender manager twice and spoken to her on the phone a couple of times. The meetings were planned and to discuss our plans ahead of going back to ss. She has always been very respectful. I hope this helps to put your mind at ease xxx
Thank you.
My children do know as they are too young to understand. I hope they are kind and sensitive for my childrens sake
.xx
My children do know as they are too young to understand. I hope they are kind and sensitive for my childrens sake
.xx