What is an Appropriate Adult?

When someone is arrested by the police
and taken to a police station they have three basic rights: -

1. The right to free and independent legal advice 2. The right to have someone informed of their arrest 3. The right to consult the Codes Of Practice (concerning police powers and procedures)

They will also be given a written notice informing them of their rights and entitlements whilst in custody. Please follow the link above for the Home Office Circular 033/2004 to see details of the latest amended version of these rights.

The custody officer (usually a police sergeant) who is responsible for all detained people must make sure that interviews and other procedures are conducted as soon as possible and in the proper manner. They also have a responsibility to identify vulnerable people. Those considered vulnerable are anyone who appears (to the custody officer) to be under the age of 17, people with mental health difficulties, people with a learning disability and those who have trouble communicating and understanding things.

Having identified a young person or a vulnerable adult the custody officer  has a duty to request the attendance of a responsible adult, who is known as an Appropriate Adult. This person is different to a solicitor. An Appropriate Adult can be a family member, friend or a volunteer or social/health care professional.

The role of the Appropriate Adult was created in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984, with the intention of further safeguarding the rights and welfare of young people and vulnerable adults in custody.