The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) Codes of Practice provide for an appropriate adult to be called to the police station whenever a juvenile or vulnerable adult has been detained in police custody.

A detained person has the following basic rights:

• The right to have someone informed of their arrest.

• The right to consult privately with a solicitor and the fact that independent legal advice is available free of charge.

• The right to consult the Codes of Practice setting out the powers, responsibilities and procedures of the police.

Appropriate adults have an important role to play in the custody environment by ensuring that the detained person’s interests are represented and their rights are protected.

In Sutton the Volunteer Centre provides volunteer appropriate adults to attend the police station, when there is no other suitable person available (such as a family member, friend or social/health care professional) to support young people aged 10 to 17 and  vulnerable adults (people who have mental health difficulties, people with a learning disability and those who have trouble communicating or understanding things).

An appropriate adult needs to be able to:

• engage with people

• work in a non-judgemental manner

• maintain confidentiality and boundaries

• listen effectively

• be assertive when necessary

ROLE OF THE APPROPRIATE ADULT

Appropriate adults have a positive and important role and are not to be simply an observer of what happens at the police station. They are there to ensure that the detained person for whom they are acting as an appropriate adult understands what is happening to them and why. Your key roles and responsibilities are as  follows:

• To commit to being ‘On Call’ at an agreed slot between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. on a specific day of the week and agree to attend Sutton Police Station when called.

• To support, advise and assist the detained person, particularly while they are being questioned.

• To observe whether the police are acting properly, fairly and with respect for the rights of the detained person. And to tell them if you think they are not.

• To assist with communication between the detained Person and the police.

• To ensure that the detained person understands their rights and that you have a role in protecting their rights.

TRAINING

Training for all prospective appropriate adults is held at Sutton Police Station over one and a half days plus three evening sessions. Subjects covered include:

• Mental health issues

• Drug and alcohol abuse

• Role of the Youth Offending Team

• Role of the appropriate adult

• The police process

• The police and criminal evidence codes

• Who’s who at the police station

• Understanding instructions, custody records and paperwork

• Visit to a custody suite

• Boundaries and dilemmas

• Dealing with challenging behaviour

Training is completed once two shadow visits at the Police Station have been made.

Once a volunteer becomes an Appropriate Adult, full ongoing support and additional training is provided and group meetings are also held.