DoJ - Northern Ireland Appropriate Adult Scheme

The Northern Ireland Appropriate Adult Scheme (NIAAS) is a Department of Justice (DoJ) sponsored Scheme. It does not replace parent/guardian/carer responsibility, or the statutory responsibility for people within the care and control of one of the Health and Social Care Trusts. Rather the NIAAS provides the service of a trained and independent Appropriate Adult to support and advise a young person or vulnerable adult during detention in police custody when their relative, guardian or carer cannot or will not attend the police station to perform the role of an Appropriate Adult.

The statutory Codes of Practice, issued under the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (commonly referred to as PACE), require an ‘appropriate adult’ to be called when a juvenile or vulnerable adult is detained in police custody. The role of the Appropriate Adult is to support, advise and assist individuals within these vulnerable groups to ensure they fully understand the detention process and their rights, particularly during police interviews. A juvenile is defined within PACE as a person under 18 years of age.

PACE also extensively defines the term ‘vulnerable’ as applying to any person affected and impaired by a mental disorder.