Curious

JuliaM, Ambush Predator, posts on an intriguing story about two Gwent police officers being criticised by the IPCC for assisting a man who later died. It is noted that Mr. Lewis, the individual concerned, is referred to as a 'vulnerable person'. According to the South Wales Argus - to which Julia links - Mr. Lewis was described as "deaf and also had speech difficulties and therefore relied on lip-reading and sign-language to communicate" by IPCC Commissioner for Wales Tom Davies.

Section 59 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 lists those who are classified as 'vulnerable adults'. What is not made clear in the South Wales Argus article is exactly where Mr. Lewis lived. Courtesy of Google view, it is possible to see Rudry Street, Newport - and by using the arrows (top left) both sides of the street can be seen. It will be noticed that on one side is a row of terraced houses, but on the other is what appears to be 'social housing', reminiscent of 'new build' housing association stock.

If Mr. Lewis was classified as a 'vulnerable adult' then, with the exception of clause (e) of section 59 social services and/or the housing association would have been involved in some aspect or another - in which case, why was no contact made for two weeks? If Mr. Lewis did in fact live in the 'new build' accommodation and that accommodation is owned by a housing association, then serious matters arise. Much has been made lately about the withdrawal of full-time or day-time wardens and the conversion to what is called 'floating support', with the resultant examples where elderly and vulnerable people die and are not discovered for several days or weeks.

My supposition of where Mr. Lewis lived is open to question, however if he did indeed live in housing association accommodation then it would appear that possibly the wrong people received a slap on the wrist.

Just curious......................