Progress stalls after legislation pledge

The government is yet to decide whether to put the protection of vulnerable adults on a statutory footing despite announcing it would consider the issue in March.

Care services minister Ivan Lewis told a conference on elder abuse that the Department of Health was still looking at the case for legislation.

Adult protection is governed by the No Secrets guidance, from which councils can sometimes depart.

Legislating on adult protection was recommended in an Action on Elder Abuse report on the treatment of abuse.