Appropriate Adult

YSS developed a volunteer Appropriate Adult service for 10-16 year olds being detained in Police Custody in 1999. The service now covers the whole West Mercia region and the majority of the service is offered between 9am and 9pm every day of the year. YSS recruits and trains local people from the community and they attend Police Custody Suites when young people aged between 10 and 16 years of age are being interviewed with regard to an alleged offence. The volunteers ensure a young person is treated in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) Act codes of practice, and generally ensure their welfare is maintained and that they fully understand what is happening to them.

What is a volunteer Appropriate Adult?

The Police and the Criminal Evidence Act (P.A.C.E.) 1984 and the Youth Justice Board National Standards require that any young person aged between 10 and 17 years of age, whilst being interviewed under caution at the police station, must have an Appropriate Adult in attendance. In the first instance, this Appropriate Adult would be the parent/carer or close family relative. This is not often possible, however, for a variety of reasons; example work commitments, other child care commitments, unwilling to attend, sickness, not contactable, being a victim, witness or co-accused in the incident. In such cases, the Police have a duty to request a suitably trained Appropriate Adult to attend, for example, a social worker. Following Government research, however, recommendations were made for the establishment of trained and accredited local volunteer schemes to provide such a service.

What does a volunteer Appropriate Adult actually do?

The role is contained in the environment of a Police Station. The volunteer attends and liaises with the custody sergeant regarding the circumstances of a young person's detention and would checks the custody record ensuring that the young person's rights had been read and understood by him/her. The Appropriate Adult would also check the young person's physical, mental and emotional condition. The Appropriate Adult would be present with the young person during the police interview, in the presence of a solicitor, but could also be present for other procedures such as searches, video ID, fingerprinting, photographs, charging and bailing. At each stage the Appropriate Adult would ensure that the young person's rights and welfare were being maintained. The volunteer is not involved in transportation, accommodation or other onward services that the young person may require.

How does the service operate?

YSS provide this service between 9am and 9pm every day of the year in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and between 9am and 5pm in Shropshire. Once a volunteer is trained they are placed on a rota for times and dates that are suitable for them to be on standby. When a request is received from the Police, YSS contacts the volunteer on the rota and supplies them with all relevant details. The volunteer then attends the police station at a pre-arranged time. The volunteer has the backup of a fully trained YSS staff member at all times for any queries or concerns.

How much time commitment do I need give?

This varies from person to person . An Appropriate Adult may be occupied for between 2 and 3 hours whist acting at a Police Station. We do ask that volunteers are available at least once a fortnight.