A descriptive study of individuals accepted by a Fixated Threat Assessment Centre

This study describes the first 352 cases accepted by the Victorian Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (VFTAC), a specialist multi-agency policing and forensic mental health unit established in 2018. VFTAC responds to both fixated individuals whose contact with public figures causes concern and individuals referred from other sources due to concern about their potential for lone actor grievance-fuelled violence (LAGFV). The aim of the study was to examine differences between these groups and whether expanding the remit of VFTAC to other LAGFV is warranted. Public figure and other LAGFV cases differed as hypothesised, with the latter being younger, having more significant histories of violence, more often presenting with extremist ideologies, and causing greater concern about future violence. These factors in turn were associated with more protracted episodes of care. VFTAC involvement reduced concern about LAGFV in almost all cases, indicating a positive effect of this multiagency response to grievance-fuelled violence.