Our research

We conduct research where we believe it is needed to maximise the effectiveness of the appropriate adult safeguard, and we are best placed to carry it out. We foucs on contributing to the evidence base on appropriate adult adults and the experiences of children and vulnerable adults.

We work with academics, both directly and through our support for the BSC vulnerability research network which we helped to establish.

There to Help series

There to Help (2015)

Ensuring provision of appropriate adults for mentally vulnerable adults detained or interviewed by police (Home Secretary's Commission)

There to Help 2 (2019)

Ensuring provision of appropriate adults for vulnerable adults detained or interviewed by police. An update on progress 2013/14 to 2017/18

There to Help 3 (2020)

The identification of vulnerable adult suspects and application of the appropriate adult safeguard in police investigations in 2018/19

Other reports

Voluntary Interviews

Police searches of people (2022)

A review of PACE Powers

Not remotely fair? (2021)

Access to a lawyer in the police station during the Covid-19 pandemic

More police, more arrests, more AAs, more money? (2019)

The impact of 20,000 more police officers on demand for appropriate adults for vulnerable adults

Research archive

The following National Survey Reports were conducted as snapshots of AA provision.

BSC Vulnerability Research Network

Background

In 2019/20, NAAN worked with Dr Harriet Pierpoint and Dr Roxanna Dehaghani to establish the British Society of Criminology's Vulnerability Research Network.

The VRN brings together academics, practitioners, and policy makers together to establish a 'state of the art' criminal justice vulnerabilities research agenda. One of its key themes is "Policing and vulnerability" and this will include research around the effectiveness and impact of appropriate adults.

Purpose

For NAAN, this was a way to continue to encourage academic interest in the work of AAs, and translate it into real world impacts.

We want to use the VRN to help NAAN ensure all of its work is evidence-based, from standards, to training to qualifications. And for AA schemes to benefit from evaluations of their impact and working practices.

Get involved

There are lots ways to get involved. You don't need to be an academic - you just need to have an interest. To find out more, click on the following links:

Check out the BSC VRN webpage
Follow the BSC VRN on Twitter
BSC VRN events
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