Citation, commencement and extent

1. —(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Police Act 1997 (Enhanced Criminal Record Certificates) (Protection of Vulnerable Adults) Regulations 2002 and shall come into force on 1st March 2002.

(2) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.

Definition of vulnerable adult

2. —(1) In these Regulations “vulnerable adult” means a person aged 18 or over who is receiving services of a type listed in paragraph (2) below and in consequence of a condition of a type listed in paragraph (3) below has a disability of a type listed in paragraph (4) below.

(2) The services are—

(a) accommodation and nursing or personal care in a care home;

(b) personal care or nursing or support to live independently in his own home;

(c) any services provided by an independent hospital, independent clinic, independent medical agency or National Health Service body;

(d) social care services; or

(e) any services provided in an establishment catering for a person with learning difficulties.

(3) The conditions are—

(a) a learning or physical disability;

(b) a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs; or

(c) a reduction in physical or mental capacity.

(4) The disabilities are—

(a) a dependency upon others in the performance of, or a requirement for assistance in the performance of, basic physical functions;

(b) severe impairment in the ability to communicate with others; or

(c) impairment in a person’s ability to protect himself from assault, abuse or neglect.

(5) In this regulation “care home”, “independent clinic”, “independent hospital”, “independent medical agency” and “National Health Service body” have the same meanings as in the Care Standards Act 2000( 2 ).

Positions specified for the purposes of section 115(4) of the Police Act 1997

3. A position is specified for the purposes of section 115(4) of the Police Act 1997 if it is of a kind which enables a person to have regular contact in the course of his duties with a vulnerable adult.