Dangerous and severe personality disorder and in need of treatment.

The Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder Programme was born out of a populist law and order reaction, developed on false premises, but is now evolving into an exciting initiative for providing effective services to a group of offenders with mental illness who psychiatry, and the justice services, have so long ignored. Enthusiasm, flexibility and an evidence-based approach may yet lead to real progress towards the improved management of disturbed high-risk offenders, improving the psychological and social functioning of the offenders as well as delivering a safer community.