The Staffordshire Commissioner is inviting residents who want to make a difference to their communities to volunteer as Appropriate Adults, providing a vital role in safeguarding the rights and welfare of vulnerable people in Police custody.
Independent of the Police, Appropriate Adults provide support throughout some of the important stages a detainee goes through during their stay in custody, to ensure they are treated in a just and fair manner and are able to participate effectively.
Many Police processes cannot take place without an Appropriate Adult present, as they are required when a vulnerable detainee first receives their Rights & Entitlements, when they are interviewed or searched, if DNA or other samples are taken, and if they are charged.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Ben Adams said: “Appropriate Adults and other volunteers are an important part of the work of my office, and their commitment and dedication in giving up their time makes a real difference to the services and their communities.”
Appropriate Adults can choose to work from Watling Street Custody Facility near Penkridge, the Northern Area Custody Facility in Hanley, or any Staffordshire Police station. The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but volunteers are able to work around their own commitments from as little as two hours a week.
Their role is to:
- Support, advise and assist detainees when they are given or asked to provide information or participate in any procedure
- Observe whether the Police are acting properly and fairly to respect detainees’ rights and entitlements, and raise any concerns they may have
- Help detainees communicate with the Police, while respecting their right to say nothing unless they want to
- Help detainees understand their rights, and ensure those rights are protected and respected
Volunteers will receive full training, potentially helping to boost their career opportunities.
Find out more about the Appropriate Adult role and apply here.