Probation

Circular

LAUNCH OF NEW INTERNET SEX REFERENCE NO:

OFFENDER TREATMENT 92/2005

PROGRAMME (i-SOTP) ISSUE DATE:

21 December 2005
PURPOSE
To inform Areas of the availability of the new programme, which is aimed at IMPLEMENTATION DATE:
offenders convicted of internet related sexual offences. The programme will
Immediate
be available for implementation in all Areas and should greatly assist in the
management of such offenders. Areas are invited to nominate a
EXPIRY DATE:
representative to attend the Implementation Seminar on February 10th 2006.
January 2008
ACTION
TO:
1. Chief Officers to circulate to Senior Managers responsible for
Interventions who should notify NPD who will be attending the Chairs of Probation Boards
Implementation Seminar on behalf of the Area by January 20th 2006. Chief Officers of Probation
2. Senior Managers (Interventions) should begin preparation of the Secretaries of Probation Boards
Implementation Plan for the delivery of the i-SOTP. A request for an early
estimate of training requirements is attached. CC:
3. Regional Managers are also invited to attend the Implementation Board Treasurers
Seminar Regional Managers

SUMMARY AUTHORISED BY:

The i-SOTP has been approved for implementation by the Correctional John Scott, Head of Public
Services Accreditation Panel. The Implementation Seminar on February 10th Protection and Licensed Release
2006 will provide an opportunity for Area representatives to hear details of Unit
the new programme and the requirements for implementation. It is envisaged
that the programme will assist in reducing waiting times for treatment and be ATTACHED:
a more focussed intervention for these offenders. Existing sex offender Appendix One
programme facilitators will be eligible for training to deliver the new
programme and training courses will commence in May 2006. The
programme will be available in both group and individual format.
Areas will need to identify how many staff will require training and notify
NPD.

RELEVANT PREVIOUS PROBATION CIRCULARS

N/A

CONTACT FOR ENQUIRIES

David.Middleton2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or
Elizabeth.Hayes6@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Contact for enquiries relating to the Implementation Seminar
Lissa.McDonald@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

National Probation Directorate

Horseferry House, Dean Ryle Street, London, SW1P 2AW
1. The Correctional Services Accreditation Panel has approved for implementation the i-SOTP (Internet – Sex Offender
Treatment Programme) developed by the Sex Offender Team, Public Protection and Licensed Release Unit,
NPD/NOMS. The i-SOTP is a treatment programme designed for offenders who have been convicted of offences which
involved the viewing, making, possession, distribution of indecent images of children through the medium of electronic
communication (hereafter referred to as “Internet offenders”). Whilst such offending is currently predominantly through
the use of the Internet, it is possible that offenders may use other forms of accessing such material e.g. 3G phone
technology.

2. Why do we need a programme for Internet related offending?

In 2004 Probation areas were surveyed to ascertain data concerning waiting lists for sex offender treatment
programmes. Whilst these varied from area to area, it was apparent that those who had high waiting lists also had a
high proportion of offenders convicted for internet related offences. This may reflect the regional variation in how Police
forces have taken action in relation to Operation Ore. The proportion of internet offenders on the waiting lists who were
awaiting commencement on treatment programmes ranged between 20 – 50%. In areas with the largest waiting lists
there was often an unacceptable gap between sentence/release on licence and starting treatment.
Whilst the current accredited programmes can be adapted to be relevant for internet offenders there is sometimes some
ambivalence from internet related offenders to work in the same group as rapists and child molesters. Whilst such
resistance can be overcome, it is nevertheless an initial barrier to treatment gains. This new programme enables the
need for intervention to be informed by an internet specific focus as well as a focus on general sex offending risk
factors. Lack of victim awareness (more so than empathy), compulsivity, collecting behaviour, emotional avoidance and
investment in on-line pseudo relationships are specific behaviours which feature significantly in internet offenders.
Existing accredited programmes are able to address aspects of the criminogenic needs of these offenders through
adaptation of certain exercises. However it is felt that some offenders will be better suited to customised individual
programmes or groups reserved exclusively for offenders of this sort.

3. The i-SOTP enables best use of resources by providing a shorter treatment programme for internet offenders who are
assessed as Low, Medium or High Risk (using RM 2000 as modified by PC85/2005) and who are assessed as Low
Deviance using the Sex Offender Psychometric Scoring System (SOPSSys). This means that higher dosage provision
on existing sex offender programmes are reserved for those whose risk and needs merits it. Therefore Internet
Offenders who are assessed as Very High Risk or High Deviance must be referred to the existing accredited sex
offender programmes (C-SOGP, TV-SOGP. N-SOGP). The i-SOTP is available in two formats. The Group format is a
35 session programme of 2 hour sessions. Areas may choose to run either one or two sessions per week. The One to
One format is a minimum of 20 and maximum of 30 sessions each of which lasts for 90 minutes. (Both formats require
substantial homework assignments to be completed by offenders between sessions) Completion of the programme
therefore can be achieved between 4 and 9 months depending on the choice of format and rate of delivery. The choice
of which format to use, or to use both formats, is entirely at the discretion of each Area.

4. Existing Facilitators and Treatment Managers on the accredited sex offender programmes will be eligible for training to
run the i-SOTP. In Group format the programme will require a team of 3 Facilitators and 1 Treatment Manager for each
group. In One to One format the programme requires 1 Facilitator and 1 Treatment Manager. The i-SOTP specific
training will be a 3 day course covering both formats and training roll-out will commence in May 2006. Staff who
successfully complete the course will be eligible to run i-SOTP in both formats. The initial course will by run by a
national training team, however we wish to move quickly to providing Train the Trainer courses, so that Regions can
meet their own demand for training. In order to achieve this aim, priority for places on the first courses will be given to
staff who are nominated by their Areas as potential Regional i-SOTP trainers, so that they may gain early experience of
running the programme before developing a training role.

5. It is expected that there will be interest in running this programme in all Probation Areas therefore a national
Implementation Seminar will be held on 10th February 2006 at the Thistle Birmingham City Hotel. Due to the expected
demand it is only possible to offer one place to each Area in the first instance. The Area representative should be the
Senior Manager responsible for Interventions. However Areas may choose to delegate attendance to the Programme
Manager responsible for sex offender interventions. Applications should be made on the attached form. The Seminar
will be an opportunity to hear more about the programme, the requirements for selection of staff to implement it, the
requirements for selection of offenders and the requirements for assessment and data collection. Regional Managers
are also invited to attend the Implementation Seminar and there will be an opportunity during the day to consider
regional organisation of programme delivery.

PC92/2005 – Launch of New Internet Sex Offender Treatment Programme (i-SOTP) 2

PC i-SOTP Appendix One

Application to attend i-SOTP Implementation Seminar – 10th February 2006

If you would like to nominate a second representative

from your Area should this be possible please do so
here. Please note that it may not be possible to
accommodate more than one representative from each
Area..
Name: Name:

Area:

Position: Position:

Tel: Tel:

E-mail: E-mail:

Particular dietary requirements: Particular dietary requirements:

Do you have a disability or special requirement which is Do you have a disability or special requirement which is
relevant to this application? Please specify so we can make relevant to this application? Please specify so we can make
appropriate arrangements. appropriate arrangements.

It may not be possible at this stage for you to estimate the number of Facilitators and Treatment Managers your
Area requires for training. However if you are able to give a provisional estimate it will be helpful in planning
for the number of training courses which will be required.

Estimated Number of i-SOTP Facilitators required for Estimated Number of i-SOTP Facilitators required for
2006/07: 2007/08:

Estimated Number of Treatment Managers required Estimated Number of Treatment Managers required
for 2006/07: for 2007/08:

Please return this form to Lissa McDonald, Projects Manager, Public Protection Unit, NPD/NOMS via:

e-mail: lissa.mcdonald@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

or

Post: Lissa McDonald, PPU, 1st Floor,

Horseferry House,
Dean Ryle Street,
London SW1P 2AW

Please return as soon as possible and by Friday 20th January 2006 at the latest

PC92/2005 – Launch of New Internet Sex Offender Treatment Programme (i-SOTP)