Adults with vulnerabilities in custody are not receiving appropriate support
- 26 Aug
A report has found that almost a quarter of a million adults with vulnerabilities in police custody are not receiving the support of an “appropriate adult”.
A report commissioned by the Home Office has said that lack of awareness and a shortage of trained volunteers means police often go ahead without on present, reports the BBC.
Home Secretary Theresa May said the situation was "not acceptable".
Appropriate adults are there to support young people or vulnerable adults when they are being interviewed by the police. This is to ensure effective communication, fair treatment and that interviewees’ rights and welfare are safeguarded.
Researchers analysed police data and found appropriate adults were used in about 45,000 of the 1.4m detentions and voluntary interviews of adults each year. It is estimated that 280,000 of those detentions involves a person who is "mentally vulnerable".
Chris Bath, chief executive of the National Appropriate Adult Network, the charity which led the study, said: "People with learning disabilities, mental ill health, traumatic brain injuries or autistic spectrum disorders are some of the most vulnerable citizens, and state detention is perhaps the most vulnerable situation. We have a moral and a legal duty to ensure appropriate adults are available wherever people live."
Mrs May added: "The status quo is not acceptable and I am concerned that vulnerable adults are not always receiving the support of an appropriate adult. We are currently examining the recommendations and implementation options to ensure that vulnerable people are provided with the support they are entitled to."
Avtar Bhatoa, from the Law Society, said appropriate adults were needed to ensure "fair justice for all. With the right support, mentally vulnerable people are less likely to suffer an injustice or to waive their right to free legal advice through fear and misunderstanding, which can compound their disadvantage in the justice system.”
What do you think of this? Tweet us your comments @suppsolutions
Related articles
- 11 Aug
Chief inspector warns cuts are affecting adult social care
Andrea Sutcliffe has said that many carers ended up being "the sort of care worker you wouldn't want them to be", reports the BBC.Adult social care budgets have been cut by £4.6bn since 2010 - a 31%...
- 04 Jun
Social care services for adults struggling due to budget cuts
There is a £1.1.bn shortfall to councils in England warns the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and freezing care provider fees to save money is no longer sustainable, reports the...
- 03 Jun
People with vulnerabilities left at risk by policy makers
‘Solutions from the Frontline’, published by a coalition of charities looks into the ideas and experiences of service users. It investigates how the new government along with national and local...
- 20 Apr
Social landlords in Wales hope to save the NHS £1.7m
The savings will come from housing 33 patients under the care of the Aneurin Bevan University health board, through a project called ‘In One Place.' This project places patients who have a mental...
- 17 Apr
New supported housing service for people needing care after hospital
The service will provide supported accommodation for people who no longer need specialist medical care, but who are no longer able to return home due to changes in their home care needs. It is hoped...
- 15 Apr
Proposal for an extension on the integration of health and social care in Staffordshire
Staffordshire County Council wishes to agree on a new deal which will help to improve integration between health and social care for its residents, reports ITV.The deal, if agreed, will extend the...
- 17 Mar
Older people and people with disabilities finding it hard to get state funded care
Social services leaders are warning that many people with disabilities or older people with care needs are facing the challenge of having to pay for their own support at the end of the next...
- 11 Nov
The number of people using food banks has risen by 1,468%
Latest figures by the Trussell Trust show that 913,138 adults and children have received three day's emergency food and support from its food banks over 103/14 which is an increase of 346,992 since...
- 30 Oct
Support for patients with vulnerabilities with eased pressure on hospitals
Teams of social workers and NHS staff will soon become available seven days a week under new care plans, reports the BBC.Ministers are predicting that pressures will ease on hospitals from April once...
- 29 Oct
How one housing association is communicating online with people who have hearing impairments
Wheatley Group's SignVideo, a British Sign Language interpretation service, has been developed to help tenants with hearing impairments the opportunity to contact their landlord directly without...
Responding to the DWP Consultation: Housing Benefit Reform - Supported Housing "It was well-run, in a good location, and very useful. I've only one suggestion; as the session went on it would perhaps have been useful for bullet points of general agreement about what should be in the sector response to be displayed and added to as the session went on, maybe on a flip chart. Regarding your response paper, I particularly like the answer you give to question 9. In fact the general: "if it ain't broke don't fix it" response could be pushed harder." M.P. - Adref Ltd
