‘The Silence’: Examining the missing voices of disabled people in police custody

Abstract: The role of the Appropriate Adult was established to protect the rights of suspects considered ‘vulnerable’ due to a number of miscarriages of justice during the 1970s. Appropriate Adult services are now a legal requirement in England and Wales for detained adults with mental health issues, learning disabilities or difficulties who have been detained in police custody. The aim of this project was to evaluate the extent and involvement of disabled adults who are or have been in police custody. The study concludes by suggesting the application of a social model approach within police custody, to meet the needs of service users and to avoid any miscarriages of justice