Vulnerability and the appropriate adult safeguard: examining the definitional and threshold changes within PACE Code C

In October 2017, the Home Office carried out a public consultation on proposed changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Code C. These changes relate to vulnerable suspects and the appropriate adult (AA) safeguard. In July 2018, significant revisions were passed by Parliament and later brought into force. This paper explores two areas of revision: the definition of vulnerable suspects for whom an appropriate adult is required and the decision-making threshold for police officers. It sets out these aspects as they stood under the 2017 Code and as proposed at the consultation stage, and then examines the final changes drawing upon previous research, including empirical research in police custody