A rise in domestic violence has been symptomatic of past recessions. One explanation of the 60% rise in safeguarding referrals received by adult directors since the downturn began last autumn is that the abuse of vulnerable adults follows a similar pattern.
The alternative view, put forward by the Department of Health, is that this represents an increased propensity to refer on the part of care staff and the public.
Any evidence of improved awareness would be very welcome given adult safeguarding's historic invisibility and the many barriers - stigma, inadequate inter-agency working - to reporting abuse. However, we have no way of knowing, given the poor current evidence base.
There is no regular collection of abuse statistics in England and no performance indicators on adult safeguarding, despite then care services minister Liam Byrne promising to introduce both in March 2006.
The review of the 2000 No Secrets guidance should have prompted action on these fronts but the government is yet to give its response to a consultation which finished 10 months ago.
With older and disabled people potentially at greater risk, such inaction cannot be justified. At the very least, Byrne's pledges should be implemented, and quickly.
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