Safeguarding adults is the process of protecting people with care and support needs from abuse or neglect.

In each nation there is either legislation or policy guidance that safeguards adults by placing clear expectations for local authorities and organisations in contact with adults with care and support needs or those who are unable to safeguard themselves.

Safeguarding can be about protecting an adult who:

• has care and support needs (whether or not these are being met by the local authority)
• is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect
• is unable to protect him/ herself from that, due to those care and support needs.

According to recent data published by Inside Housing there has been a 65 per cent rise in the number of cuckooing cases recorded by just one Police force in three years. That's just one safeguarding issue not to mention the many other instances on the rise.