MARAC - Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference

The role of the MARAC is to assist with, monitor and evaluate effective information sharing to enable appropriate actions to be taken to increase public safety.

What are the aims of MARAC?

  • to share information to increase the safety, health and well being of victims - adults and their children
  • to determine whether the perpetrator posses a significant risk to any particular individual or to the general community
  • to identify outstanding aspects of risk assessment in regard to the victim, children or perpetrator that need a referral or progress
  • to pull together a risk management plan that provides professional support to all those at risk and that reduces the risk of harm
  • to reduce repeat victimisation
  • to improve agency accountability
  • improve support for staff involved in high risk domestic abuse cases

In a single meeting, a domestic violence MARAC combines up to date risk information with a timely assessment of a victims needs and links those directly to the provision of appropriate services for all those involved in a domestic abuse case, victim, children and perpetrator.

Composition of a MARAC

The following agencies might attend MARACs.  The agencies invited should be any that have a role to play in the victim and the children's safety, so it is crucial to have non-criminal justice system groups there as referrals can be made to a MARAC from any agency.  It is helpful if there is a consistent person who is nominated to represent their agency.

Permanent Attendees

  • Police
  • Children's Social Care
  • Independent Domestic Violence Advocates
  • specialist domestic abuse services including local Women's Aid or other refuge provider and specialist projects supporting minority communities and groups
  • Health representatives
  • Housing/Homeless Service
  • Probation
  • Mental Health
  • local drug and alcohol services

There may be additional attendees as individual cases dictate such as

  • Community based and voluntary perpetrator programmes
  • National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) local centre representative
  • children's support organisations
  • Local Authority Domestic Abuse Coordinator

The victim does not attend the meeting, nor does the perpetrator, or the Crown Prosecution Service.