VULNERABLE adults at risk of abuse are being protected by a new safety net in York and North Yorkshire.

The Adult Protection Committee has been set up by a range of local groups to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the protection of vulnerable adults across the region.

It was established in response to the Government's No Secrets initiative, which came from an increased awareness of the need to have clear guidelines across social services, the NHS and the police to tackle abuse against adults. The committee will use specially-trained professionals to protect vulnerable people aged 18 or over seen to be at risk from all kinds of abuse or neglect, such as elderly, mentally ill or disabled people.

The "alerters", staff in various agencies trained to be aware of the signs of abuse, warn investigators from social services and the police if they are concerned about any of their clients. A full investigation is then carried out and legal action is taken if needed.

Groups involved in the new venture include City of York Council, North Yorkshire County Council, York and North Yorkshire NHS Trusts and North Yorkshire Police.

A progress report on the committee's development will on Tuesday was being considered today by City of York Council's Executive Member for Social Services, Viv Kind.

Coun Kind said: "We are really making progress here. Everyone accepts how important it is to get agencies working together for effective child protection, and now we are applying the same principles to protecting vulnerable adults.

"We have a responsibility to protect vulnerable people from abuse, whether their vulnerability is due to frailty, illness, disability, or any other reason. This purpose of this committee is to see vulnerable people treated with respect and consideration, protected from abuse of any kind."

Updated: 10:19 Tuesday, April 22, 2003