Our speaker was at the last PAC meeting was Chris Drew from the Surrey Appropriate Adult Volunteer Schemer (SAAVS). Chris is the SAAVS leader forGuildforddistrict.

SAAVS assists and supports those vulnerable members of society, children, at-risk adults and those with varying mental health problems, as their “appropriate adult” whilst being questioned by the police at the police station.  In certain circumstances the police investigation cannot proceed unless an appropriate adult is present to support these people.  Sadly, it is often the case that family, friends and Social Services are not available to provide much needed support.  We were told of several high profile cases  where someone had been accused, and indeed imprisoned for many years, for crimes, which in some cases, there is now serious doubt as to whether they were ever guilty.  If these individuals had had someone competent and knowledgeable to stand up for them and represent them at their questioning by police they may never have been convicted.  Children, have always had to have a responsible adult figure present when taken into police custody but over-sixteens have not until this vital service was provided by SAAVS .

SAAVS volunteers join a team and are on call at times to suit them.  Each of Surrey’s main custody centres has a dedicated team so that they can respond within thirty minutes of being called by the police.  Some of the ways in which volunteers can help is by checking that the detainee understands and knows how to exercise their Statutory Rights, supporting them during the police interview, requesting  medical assessments on their behalf, checking that police custody records are correct, and by being present during procedures such as identity parades, fingerprinting or searches.