Professionalizing the role of appropriate adults

The role of an appropriate adult (AA) is to facilitate communication, to ensure an understanding of legal rights, and to provide support for an individual with a mental disorder at police interview. Such schemes differ significantly throughout the UK in terms of legal basis, requirements to be an AA, and client group. This study provides the first description of AA schemes in Scotland, and makes recommendations relevant to Scotland and wider jurisdictions. By 2002 all of Scotland had access to the services of appropriate adults via 16 schemes. This study identified problems with lack of record-keeping, performance indicators, standardized procedures, and management structures, and also with under-utilization and knowledge gaps in AAs and related professions. Police interviews have been ruled inadmissible because of lack of an AA, and also failure of an AA to explain legal rights. Recommendations are made: to create standardized reporting and training systems under the control of an umbrella organization; to develop the role of AAs through a mandatory professional background related to mental health and specific training in relevant legal matters; to develop a more realistic definition of mental disorder requiring the services of an AA with established procedures to assist police officers in their identification; to place the AA schemes in Scotland on a statutory basis; and to establish a framework for AAs to fulfil their role within a court setting.