APPROPRIATE ADULTS FOR 17 YEARS OLD AT THE POLICE STATION

At the High Court today a legal challenge was being made to have the law altered in England & Wales so that when a 17 years old suspect is arrested and taken to the police station, that they are afforded the same rights and entitlements as a youth 16 years or younger.

Currently at the Police Station 17 year olds are currently treated as an adult.  The legal challenge is hoping to make it mandatory for them to be provided with an Appropriate Adult.  These can be a responsible person or more usually a family member.  If they do not have one, a social worker or volunteer will be provided for them.

What is an “Appropriate Adult”?

Appropriate adults are also provided whenever the person is vulnerable, has mental health issues, or learning disabililities.  They look after the welfare of the individual, ensure they understand their rights, and able to communicate such as in the interview etc.

Whenever Mortons Solicitors represent young people at the police station we always insist that if the person has need of an appropriate adult, that one is provided for them.  As such we would welcome a change in the law.  In our experience whilst 17 year olds are often offered an appropriate adult, they rarely take that opportunity. That could be understandable given the lengthy periods of detention suspects now face before the police are ready to interview.

One however hopes that police officers are not discouraging the uptake of an appropriate adult much in the same way that seeking a solicitor is discouraged (anecdotally and in our experience).  Particularly given the climate of corner cutting, cost cutting and time pressures faced by police forces in the UK.