Vulnerable adults

Merseyside Police safeguarding vulnerable adults is a key part of the Force’s role in protecting the communities it serves.

With the introduction of the Care Act 2015, the Force now has a statutory obligation to safeguard and protect adults at risk in the same way it does to safeguard children.

The term safeguarding covers a range of activities which is aimed at supporting adults to exercise their basic right to live a life free from the fear or reality of abuse, regardless of where they live or the situation they are in.

A vulnerable adult is defined as:

‘any person aged 18 years or over who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental, physical, or learning disability, age or illness AND is or may be unable to take care of him or herself or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.’

The Force works closely with the five safeguarding adults boards in Merseyside to safeguard vulnerable adults.

For more information about the safeguarding adult boards in the area click here.