New scheme in Sussex to help vulnerable people in custody

The Appropriate Adult Service (TASS) will provide a trained "appropriate adult" for those who need help while they are being interviewed in custody.

It is hoped the scheme will mean vulnerable people will not need to wait around so long while someone is found.

The service will operate at custody centres in Worthing, Crawley and Chichester for vulnerable adults, and at Brighton custody for vulnerable adults and juveniles.

A similar voluntary scheme called Catch 22 already operates at the police custody centres in Eastbourne and Hastings.

Naomi Bonetti, Sussex Police senior project manager, explained: "Currently when a youth or vulnerable adult who may have mental health problems, learning difficulties or a disability is arrested then they need an appropriate adult who can sit with them while they are being interviewed.

"Police custody officers contact a parent, carer or relative in the first instance but if they are not available or suitable then they have to find a volunteer or someone from social services.

"This can mean the detained person is spending a long time in custody while someone is found.

"Under the new scheme, which comes into effect from January 1, specially trained appropriate adults can be contacted on a central number by custody officers, and can arrive within 90 minutes."

Sussex Police Superintendent Lance Gray, of the Community Justice Department, said: "We are delighted to be taking forward this new initiative to improve the overall service that we give to vulnerable people on the occasions when police detention is unavoidable."

The scheme, which sees Sussex Police working with other agencies like social services and adult and children services to take it forward, will be piloted for six months.

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