Crime and intelligence - Protection of adults at risk policy (N10)

1. Security protective marking

 1.1 Not protectively marked.

2. Summary of changes

  2.1 The following changes have been made to this policy in January 2022:

• policy reviewed - no amendments to content made

3. What this policy is about

3.1 Kent Police is committed to the protection of vulnerable adults. This policy provides a framework to ensure a consistent and efficient response with the key objectives of safeguarding vulnerable adults and investigating adult abuse and neglect.

3.2 A definition of an adult at risk can be derived from section 42(1) of the Care Act 2014 as 'an adult who has needs for care or support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs), is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.' 

Compliance with this policy and its linked procedures is mandatory.

4. Statement of policy

4.1 Kent Police will respond to vulnerable adults who are subject to abuse and neglect in order to:

• protect the lives of adults at risk and ensure that in the policing of adult abuse, the welfare of all adults is paramount
• investigate all reports of abuse and neglect and to protect the rights of the adult at risk take effective action against offenders so they can be held to account through the criminal justice system while safeguarding the welfare of the adult at risk
• adopt a proactive multi agency approach to preventing and reducing adult abuse

4.2 Safeguarding adults at risk refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific adults who are suffering or are at risk of suffering significant harm in the form of physical, sexual, psychological/emotional, financial, discriminatory or institutional abuse or neglect and acts of omission.

4.3 This activity is conducted jointly between the PVP Vulnerability Investigation Team (VIT) and Kent Adult Social Services (KASS) or Medway Councils Adult Social Care (ASC) in line with agreed arrangements of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Boards.

4.4 Some abuse may not amount to a crime but will still require a police response, which may include referral, enquiry or investigation by multi agency partners under safeguarding procedures.

4.5 Criminal investigations relating to adult abuse will be the responsibility of Kent Police.

5. Implications of the policy

5.1 Finance/staffing/training

5.1.1. There are no known additional financial implications other than those already incurred.

5.1.2. All officers and staff involved in protecting and safeguarding adults at risk will receive appropriate training and refresher training according to their roles.

5.1.3. A robust supervision and management oversight structure is in place which is responsible for all aspects of safeguarding adults at risk.

5.2 Risk assessment 

5.2.1. This policy has been assessed as medium risk. Police officers and police staff will adopt a generic risk assessment in line with the relevant procedure and in accordance with their individual roles.

5.3 Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

5.3.1. This policy has been assessed with regard to its relevance to race and diversity equality. As a result of this assessment the policy has been graded as having medium impact.

6. Monitoring and review

6.1. Monitoring of this policy will be the responsibility of the Head of Protecting Vulnerable People (PVP) via the Policy and Governance and Scrutiny Team inspector HQ PVP.

6.2. This policy will be reviewed every two years with the next review taking place in January 2024.

7. Other source documents

• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• NPIA Guidance on Investigating the Abuse of Vulnerable Adults 2012
• Making Safeguarding Personal 2014
• The Care Act 2014

8. Security

8.1. Kent Police has measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management policy (Policy W1000 – Information Management).

9. Retention and disposal of records

9.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal policy (Policy W1012 – Records Review, Retention and Disposal).