New campaign urges people to report suspected abuse in Waltham Forest

A campaign urging residents to report any suspected abuse of vulnerable adults has been launched by Waltham Forest Council.

The authority says staff from its Adult Social Care teams dealt with 750 reports of such cases last year.

A council spokeswoman said the campaign would involve putting up posters and distributing leaflets with the message “Don’t tolerate it, don’t ignore it”.

It is hoped the push will encourage people to report any concerns to the authority’s Safeguarding Adults Team on 020 8496 3000.

Cllr Angie Bean, cabinet member for adult services, said: “Any kind of violence or abuse is unforgivable, but when it’s perpetrated against society’s most vulnerable people it’s particularly deplorable.

“Our Adult Social Care teams do a great job, and while they follow up on concerns and reports from service users they also rely on information from concerned friends, neighbours and relatives.”

A council spokeswoman said the campaign had not been prompted by any particular incidents, but had been launched as part of the authority’s priority of ‘helping you and your family’.

She added: “Abuse does not just cover physical harm but also things like sexual abuse, theft or withholding benefits, emotional abuse, threatening, abandonment, neglect or discrimination.

“Anyone can be guilty of abuse, whether they are relatives, friends, neighbours, carers or voluntary staff.

“Whatever the relationship, abuse of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”