174 reports over safeguarding of adults per week

MORE than 9,000 safeguarding concerns about the treatment of adults were reported to local councils on Teesside in 2024/25.

- By STUART ARNOLD Local democracy reporter [e-mail]

An annual report by the Teesside Safeguarding Adults Board (TSAB) said there were a total of 9,056 safeguarding concerns raised across the four local authorities covered - Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton - over the 12 months, representing a 7% increase.

These led to 2,985 section 42 enquiries (a 3% rise). These are required under the 2014 Care Act on local authorities if it is believed that an adult is experiencing abuse or at risk of it.

Of the four local authority areas, Middlesbrough reported the greatest number of safeguarding concerns (2,865), which translated to 1,575 section 42 enquiries, again the highest among its Teesside counterparts.

The majority of enquiries after a complaint (48%) centred on a person's home, while 28% were associated with care home occupancy and 7% in hospitals, with the rest in other settings.

On average, 174 safeguarding concerns were raised a week on Teesside. From the cases investigated to their conclusion, in 76% the risk to an individual was said to have been reduced as a result of action then taken by authorities; in 19% the risk was entirely removed and in 5% the risk remained.