1. How many incidents of physical abuse by people (adults) with learning disabilities or mental health conditions against their carers (family or professional) or the general public have been recorded in the last 2 years?
Compliance with this request would exceed the appropriate cost limit under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is £450 or 18 hours of officer time. To provide the information requested would require a manual search of each safeguarding adult concern received over the last 2 years to identify if the person causing harm had a mental health condition and / or learning disability.
Between the 1st April 2022 and the 31st March 2024, Devon County Council received 15,808 safeguarding adult concern referrals. To review 15,808 safeguarding adult concern forms and to identify if the person causing harm had a mental health condition and / or learning disability will take in excess of 18 hours. 15,808 records x 10 minutes per record = 158,080 minutes or 2,634 hours.
We only receive safeguarding concerns for those adults for whom we have reasonable cause to believe have care and support needs. Professional carers and general members of the public who have been physically abused by a person with a learning disability or a mental health condition would not be subject to a safeguarding adult concern referral.
2. Are these incidents reported and dealt with by the police?
Such incidents are referred to the Police if there is an allegation of assault.