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

1. Summary of changes

1.1 This policy has been reviewed in November 2026 – no amendments to content have been made. 

2. What this policy is about

2.1 This policy ensures Kent Police discharges its statutory responsibilities in line with the Care Act 2014. This policy provides a framework to ensure a consistent and effective response to safeguard adults at risk of neglect, abuse, and exploitation.

2.2 This policy applies to all police officers, special constables, police community support officers, police staff employees, and police volunteers.

This policy describes the actions officers and staff WILL or MUST take to comply with the law. Therefore, compliance with these directions is mandatory. It also describes actions that MAY or SHOULD be taken dependent on the context of the case.

3. Statement of policy

3.1 In line with its statutory duty Kent Police is committed to preventing harm to adults at risk by ensuring the workforce effectively identify threat and risk, and that once identified they are skilled and trained in taking appropriate action to avoid escalation.

3.2 Kent Police will respond to vulnerable adults who are subject to abuse and neglect by:

• protecting the lives of adults at risk, ensuring that investigations are victim centred
• prevent harm by focussing on those that seek to exploit or abuse them
• conduct quality investigations in line with N26
• working with partners in line with the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board procedures Kent and Medway SAB - KMSAB Policies and Procedures

4. How to discharge these responsibilities

4.1 Safeguarding adults at risk of neglect, abuse and exploitation is a fundamental part of the duties of all police officers and police staff. The 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 themselves against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.'

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, institutional abuse or neglect and acts of omission.

4.3 Activity is conducted jointly between the statutory partners (police, social care and health) supported by other services in line with agreed arrangements of the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board (KMSAB).

4.4 Compliance with this policy is mandatory, it has been written to support the relevant legislation. In conjunction with this policy and legislation, officers and staff must understand and follow Authorised Professional Practice (APP) written by the College of Policing and partnership guidance.

4.5 Key legislation to support officers investigating offences committed against adults at risk can be found at Key Legislation - Adults at Risk on Sharepoint.

4.6 If police receive information of concern for a vulnerable adult, then the creation of an NCI or full crime report regarding that concern must be completed, along with an accompanying adult risk assessment.

4.7 Where Kent Police have information from a victim, their family, or another organisation on specific characteristics for example the person’s sex, gender, ethnicity or cultural heritage, this information must be recorded in the appropriate fields on the person record within Athena, at the time the crime or non-crime incident report is created, or by contacting IMU as soon as the information is known (post creation). This enables the force to analyse the information to assess risk and need across Kent, for example, specialist victim support or translation services.

5. Implications of the policy

5.1 Finance/staffing/training

This specific policy does not impact upon finances staffing or training, but the nature of large scale or traumatic adults at risk investigation may require resource and funding considerations and staff welfare support. Please See SOP N10a paragraph 17.

5.2 Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) by policy holder

EIA 2026.

5.3 Risk assessment by Policy Unit

This policy has been assessed as medium risk.

6. Consultation

• PP SLT
• Crime Command
• Learning and Development
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Health and Safety
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Estates
• IT Security
• Legal
• Freedom of Information
• Police Federation
• Unison

7. Monitoring and review

7.1. The Public Protection Command monitor policies and keep up to date with legislative and guidance changes.

7.2. This policy will be reviewed yearly with the next review taking place in November 2027.

8. 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

9. Security

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

10. Retention and disposal of records

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