Information for police
Appropriate adults work with police every day, in police environments. Independence from policing is a legal requirement of their role.
As the national body, we work with policing at the national level to increase understanding of the appropriate adult role.
NAAN membership
While full membership is restricted to organisations providing appropriate adults, associate membership of NAAN is open to police forces. Key benefits include:
Access to iKAAN
Access to iKAAN, the online knowledgebase that brings together legislation, case law, policy and best practice on the treatment of children and mentally vulnerable adults who are detained or questioned by police.
Free events
Free tickets to our regular professional development events.
E-updates
E-updates directly into your email inbox, for example notifications of national policy change, the latest research, updates to PACE and upcoming events.
Guides for appropriate adults
PACE Code C requires police officers to explain an appropriate adult's role to them. Given the complexity of the role, this can be challenging for police officers. Unfortunately, the Home Office guidance for parents, carers and other untrained AAs was last updated in 2003. So here are some resources to help.
Video
Being an appropriate adult is an animated video developed by NAAN and the London School of Economics (2022).
Advice on using the video in police custody, and a downloadable poster, are available on our video implementation page.
Printable
Our detailed guide to being an appropriate adult is a similar length to the old Home Office guidance from 2003. It can be printed on four A4 sheets double-sided (2018)
Our quick guide to being an appropriate adult is a short summary leaflet, designed to be printed on a single A4 sheet, double sided and folded into thirds (2018)
Online
About appropriate adults is a webpage covering frequently asked questions about appropriate adults
Working with appropriate adult schemes
Find a scheme
Find and contact your local AA schemes
National standards
The national standards for the development and provision of appropriate adult schemes in England and Wales
Commissioning guidance
National development and commissioning guidance (requires registration)
Vetting guidance
A proportionate approach to vetting appropriate adults from organised schemes
PACE updates
Our PACE updates provide guidance on changes to PACE focused on children, vulnerable people and appropriate adults.
Policy and research
Read our policy and research papers on important issues such as vulnerability, voluntary interviews, legal advice, and strip searching.
Police strategy and guidance
National Police Chiefs' Council
National Strategy for Police Custody
National Strategy for the Policing of Children & Young People
College of Policing
Authorised Professional Practice on Detention and Custody
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services
Expectations for police custody: Criteria for assessing the treatment of and conditions for detainees in police custody (version 4)
Children
General
National Strategy for the Policing of Children & Young People (NPCC)
Authorised Professional Practice on Children and young persons (College of Policing)
Learning the Lessons Issue 37 - Children, including an article from NAAN (IOPC)
Youth Offending Team's responsibilities in regard to appropriate adults
Standards for children in the youth justice system: These standards define the minimum expectation for all agencies that provide statutory services to ensure good outcomes for children in the youth justice system.
How to manage bail and remands: Information on what happens when a child is arrested, including advice and what to consider at the police station, appropriate adults and when a child appears in court.
A guide for youth justice professionals who are managing appropriate adults and appropriate adult services
Local authority accommodation transfers (PACE s.38(6))
Concordat on Children in Custody (Home Office)
Local authority accommodation: A guide to the legal framework for post-charge transfers of children (under 18 years) to local authority accommodation (NAAN)
London Protocol for the provision of local authority accommodation for children held in police custody (LSCB 2019)
Vulnerable people
General
Authorised Professional Practice on Mental health, learning disabilities and other mental vulnerabilities (College of Policing)
Professionals in the Criminal Justice System working with Offenders with Learning Disabilities (Department of Health) p.37
Identification of vulnerable people
There to Help reports (NAAN)
PACE vulnerabilty training videos 2023 (NAAN)
PACE vulnerability and appropriate adults training slide deck 2022 (NAAN)
Detailed guide to PACE Code changes - July 2018 (NAAN)
Who do appropriate adults support? (NAAN)
Do the police have to involve an appropriate adult? (NAAN)
Vulnerability Identification Card Schemes in use by police forces in England and Wales (NAAN)
Learning the Lessons Issue 34 : Mental Health (IOPC)
Learning the Lessons Issue 35 : Custody (IOPC)
Availability of schemes for vunerable adults
There to Help reports (NAAN)
Map of current services (NAAN)
Coronavirus (Covid-19)
PLease see our coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance.