COVID-19 and police custody: compounding vulnerability among appropriate adult service users

Extensive research exists documenting the challenges facing individuals considered to be vulnerable within police custody. Appropriate adults provide support for those who are defined as vulnerable in custody suites in England and Wales. The implementation of national lockdowns and other restrictive measures due to the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic created a crisis in the provision of appropriate adults. Drawing upon existing literature and data gathered during this research project, we utilised a mixed methods approach to argue that while demand during the pandemic remained at similar level service provisions faced extensive challenges and barriers. This research engages key stakeholders across the sector to establish the impact of COVID-19 on the lived experiences of vulnerable detainees and appropriate adults. By shining an analytical spotlight on the long-lasting implications of the pandemic, we propose that the government restrictions combined with policy and legislative changes have potentially problematic impacts on future provisions necessitating close monitoring and further investigation.