Examining the missing voices of disabled people in police custody

The role of the Appropriate Adult was established due to a number of miscarriages of justice during the 1970s, in order to protect the rights of suspects considered to be ‘vulnerable’. Appropriate Adult services are now a legal requirement in England and Wales for detained adults with mental health issues, learning disabilities or difficulties who have been detained in police custody. The aim of this project was to evaluate the extent to which disabled adults who are or have been in police custody have been able to participate in the provision of Appropriate Adult services in the UK. The findings of the project suggest that participation is limited, and where it does happen, is often tokenistic. The study concludes by suggesting the application of a social model approach within police custody, to meet the needs of service users and to avoid any miscarriages of justice.