149.Section 67 places a joint duty on the “responsible authority” ie the chief officer of police and the local board for each area to establish and keep under review arrangements for assessing and managing the risks posed by “relevant sexual or violent offenders” (explained in Section 68 – see below) or other offenders who may cause serious harm.
150.The responsible authority is also required to prepare and publish at least every 12 months a report on how they have discharged the duties. As part of the report they must give details of the arrangements which have been made and such information as the Secretary of State has notified to the authorities that he wishes them to include. The intention is that the public should be able to see what arrangements have been made without the details of individual offenders being made public.
151.In addition, Section 67(6) provides that the Secretary of State will have the power to issue guidance to the authorities on how to discharge the functions under this Section.
152.It is envisaged the Secretary of State’s guidance will cover areas such as consultation with other organisations, including social services departments, child protection organisations, prisons etc as appropriate in fulfilling these functions. It will also contain guidance on what the report to be issued should contain.