Abstract

Introduced in March 2017, the Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult scheme (NLAAS) was created by a partnership between the University of Sunderland, Northumbria Police and the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office (OPCC). Police codes of practice require the police to secure an Appropriate Adult to support a 'vulnerable person' when detained, yet no official body is required to provide this support for adults. This paper will consider the use of student volunteers as Appropriate Adults through the voices of custody officers and the student volunteers and provides an initial evaluation of the scheme.