THE SEXUAL ABUSE OF ADULTS WITH LEARNING-DISABILITIES - REPORT OF A 2ND 2-YEAR INCIDENCE SURVEY

This paper reports the results of the second part of the largest UK in cidence survey to date of the sexual abuse of adults with learning dis abilities. A mandate was sought from the relevant statutory agencies a nd a standard questionnaire filled in by service managers or practitio ners for each case/incident reported which fitted the definitions and parameters of the survey. The results confirm the pattern of abuse whi ch emerged from the earlier study, i.e. that both women and men are at risk, that perpetrators are predominantly men and usually known rathe r than strangers. One important difference was a significant increase in the proportion of cases. of abuse of men with learning disabilities reported. Despite the increase in awareness and sources of informatio n about adult abuse, service agencies have not developed coordinated s ystems for reporting or recording instances of sexual abuse. Data coll ection continues to be patchy and ad hoc. The level of reporting has n ot changed but there is some evidence that people who had been victimi sed received more appropriate help. Devolution of services within a ne w mixed market of care requires that additional safeguards are put in place to protect vulnerable adults.