Why did Fred West have an “appropriate adult” allocated to him whilst he was interviewed by police?

[Snooks1971]

And would this happen now?

Why do you care?

Because he had learning difficulties and yes it would happen now.
(I’ve been a responsible adult).

It’s a question

Of course it would happen now.
Fred West was illiterate and classed as a vulnerable adult.
I have an an appropriate adult with me when in custody. People with an ASD diagnosis can get a card from the police to say they are entitled to one. It doesn't matter how old you are.

Because he was illiterate which makes him a vulnerable adult in terms of the investigative process. Still happens today.

He had learning difficulties, I believe.

That’s good (that it would happen now). I think that learning difficulties weren’t as recognised in those days though, hence my question.

That’s incredibly rude. Why can’t op ask a question?

"When in custody"

Is it a regular occurrence? I only ask because outside of work I don't know anyone who has ever been in custody.

He had a very low IQ and other issues.

When I custody, a long risk assessment is carried out. Any questions that flag the detainee's ability to fully understand the process means they would be further assessed by a HCP (nurse, Dr or paramedic) who would then decide if they need an appropriate adult.

This could be due to ASD, ADHD, mental health, learning difficulties....anything that may mean they need support to understand what is going on.

@Snooks1971

It wasn't that long ago, learning difficulties have been recognised all my life

Because the accused have a right to a fair trial and reasonable adjustments etc. If he wasn’t given support, he could use that to appeal any conviction given. So by giving him the support up front, he has been given a fair trial and it diminishes prospects of a successful appeal

Thanks all. His arrest happened so long ago (in my lifetime I’m 53) and learning difficulties just didn’t seem to be recognised when I was younger.

My MH issues have meant I have been arrested on occasion, yes.
And my DP was called in for questioning for something, and needed an appropriate adult then too.

In those days? It wasn’t that long ago. Learning difficulties and disabilities have been recognised for a very long time, and appropriate adults were introduced in 1984!

If you have seen reproductions of his writing (pictured in some true crime books) his low level of literacy is apparent. He suffered a motorcycle accident in his youth which may have caused brain damage.

It was 1994. 30 years ago, yes, but hardly the dark ages!

I assume someone accused of the crimes he was accused of would have not been considered of sound mind back then. So regardless of learning difficulties being well understood or not, this was probably an extreme enough situation to warrant people paying attention to him.

Thank you, but ASD didn’t seem to be talked about or mentioned then. I understand now that he was illiterate and that makes sense.

Of course learning difficulties were recognised then!

Just as much as now, it was considered vital for potentially vulnerable people to have proper support in custody. Both for their own protection and to ensure that the investigation could proceed in an appropriate way that wouldn't be exposed to challenges in court.

It wasn't widely known about amongst average people in the 1990s, I agree. Most media coverage related to 'savants'.

Thanks all, it was just a question. I’m actually heartened that vulnerable people (even though convicted!!) have been treated fairly within our justice system.

In those days? He was arrested in 1992!

The Police and Criminal Act and code of practice which covered an appropriate adult was introduced in 1984.

the case that triggered the above was in 1972.

so by the time west was arrested the need for an AA had long been recognised.

I feel like you’re missing the point. It’s not about labels.

They would have asked him questions and he would have responded in an unusual way.

It doesn’t matter if ASD didn’t seem to be talked about or not, he may have still presented with symptoms of something that required further consideration. It could even be if he was responding to questions in an odd enough manners where it didn’t seem like he understood the crimes he was accused of for example.

you have to remember that we constantly build on past knowledge. Learning difficulties were not invented in 2024 - what happened 30 years ago would have set a baseline for how things are handled now as it would have spurred on research.