Service: Appropriate AdultsUnder the Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) Act 1984 children and young people aged 10 - 16 years (inclusive) and vulnerable adults (i.e. people who may have mental health problems and /or learning difficulties or are in some other way deemed to be mentally vulnerable) aged 17 years and over must have an 'Appropriate Adult' (AA) with them (unless exceptional circumstances apply) when they are interviewed by police officers about their suspected involvement in a criminal offence. An Appropriate Adult can be a member of their family or a friend, but increasingly the role of the Appropriate Adult is filled by a volunteer or other social care professional.
SOVA provides Appropriate Adult services in parts of England and Wales by recruiting, training and supporting community-based volunteers to act as Appropriate Adults in safeguarding the interests of young people and vulnerable adults in the above categories during their detention or questioning by the police.
The Appropriate Adult service is a statutory service, but it is entirely independent from the police. SOVA provides all its Appropriate Adults with intensive, participative training, including opportunities to visit the police station and to shadow experienced volunteers before undertaking assignments. Training includes:
- An understanding of PACE requirements
- The responsibilities of the Appropriate Adult
- How to deal with difficult situations in the custody suite
- Detainee's rights
- Who's who in the custody suite
- SOVA core skills for volunteering
SOVA volunteers are managed by appropriately skilled and experience SOVA project staff, who undertake regular supervisions and top-up training, as well as managing and co-ordinating duty rotas and volunteer availability. SOVA manages the Appropriate Adult scheme in Sheffield, established in 1997. It covers four custody suites and provides volunteers to attend for, on average, 800 young people and 400 vulnerable adults per year.
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