VAWG high-harm offenders 392/2026

FOI Reference: 392/2026

Request:

I am writing to request information regarding the management of violence against women and girls (VAWG) high-harm offenders within your force - specifically, but not exclusively, in relation to Offender Management Units (OMUs) that specialise in, or focus on, high-harm offenders.

For the purposes of this request, "high-harm" refers to offenders who pose a risk of serious interpersonal or violent harm, including sexual offences, violent crimes, and other offences with a high impact on female victims.

Factors Considered at Referral to High-Harm OMUs:

1. Which static or historical factors (e.g., prior convictions, demographic characteristics, offence history) are routinely considered when deciding whether an offender is managed  - within a high-harm OMU or elsewhere within the force?

Are any behavioural or dynamic indicators (e.g., escalation patterns, substance misuse, relationship breakdown) formally used to inform this decision? If yes, please specify which indicators.

Decision-Making Frameworks and Tools:

2. Are structured tools, guidance documents, or panel frameworks used to assess whether an offender should be managed within a high-harm OMU?

Response 1:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Dyfed Powys Police do not have a separate high-harm OMU. Offenders which fall into the high harm category are managed within divisional MOSOVO (Management of Sexual Or Violent Offenders) and IOM (Integrated Offender Management) teams. 

The following factors are taken into consideration when an individual is categorised as high harm: Previous convictions, specifically previous convictions and offending history (including non-convictions) with similar MO (Modus Operandi).  

Additional dynamic indicators will include: Views of the MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements) and MARAC (Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference). DASH/SASH/S-DASH (Domestic Abuse, Stalking, Harassment, Honour-based violence) risk assessments, victim's voice/views, professional judgement concerns of Police and partner agencies, substance misuse, engagement / non-engagement with professionals, mental health of the offender, and Psychologist opinion (specifically used in cases of Stalking).

Response 2:

I can confirm that Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below.

Panel frameworks will include MAPPA and / or multi agency panels within the IOM structure. 

All RSOs (Registered Sex Offender) who are male and over the age of 18 will be subject to ARMS (Active Risk Management System) risk assessment which identifies the level of risk. 

All high-harm offenders will be subject to a RMP (Risk Management Plan). The RMP identifies how the offender is best managed in order to mitigate the risk that they pose.  

For cases of stalking, the SRP (Stalking Risk Profile) tool is utilised to evaluate the risk of violence, persistence and psychological damage based on the perpetrators motivation. 

All of the above factors assist Dyfed Powys Police in managing high-harm offenders within our OMU’s.     

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 08/05/2026)