Help for 'vulnerable' suspects during probes

This post came out from The Sunday Times (18 May 2014)

All criminal suspects deemed to be intellectually disabled will soon get access to trained volunteers to help them during police investigations. The Appropriate Adult Scheme is set to be expanded to cover all police stations by this year, after a successful six month trial, according to the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), which helps run the scheme.

The role of the Appropriate Adult "is critical", Ms Tina Hung, NCSS deputy chief executive officer and group director for service planning and development, told The Sunday Times. "Persons with intellectual and mental capacity challenges may not fully comprehend the questions posed to them during a police interview," she said. "The trained volunteers provide the vulnerable persons a calming influence and emotional support, as such settings can be overwhelming for them".

The pilot, which was carried out in the Bedok Police Division and ended last October, involved 60 volunteers from students to retirees. They assisted in more than 30 cases over the six months. With 97 neighbourhood police centres - more than four times the 23 in the Bedok Police Division - there will be a need to recruit more volunteers, a spokesman for the Law Society. The Bedok trial got more than 120 applicants, with 60 chosen and trained by the Law Society's pro bono services.

Volunteers are on call around the clock. There are 138 offenders with mental disabilities placed on probation in 2012, more than three times the 4 in 2005. Said Ms Hung: "We encourage more people who have an interest to help persons with intellectual and mental capacity challenges to step forward to volunteer and be trained as Appropriate Adults when the scheme is rolled out to all police stations later this year".

Thoughts:

1. Did not come across to me that people with mental disabilities also needs representations and help if they commit a crime. I think it must be very stressful for them and this scheme would be useful to help calm them down!
2. The training should be appropriate though, it is of a little concern to see students as volunteers. They might be too young!

Thoughts anyone?

Yours,

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