New report highlights risk of exploitation of adults with cognitive impairment

New research has highlighted the risk of exploitation of adults with cognitive impairment.

Cognitive impairment can include both developmental and acquired impairments. This includes but is not limited to: intellectual disability; dementia; brain injury; and autistic spectrum disorders.

More than a quarter (27%) of the adult population of England – 12 million people – are living with a disability. Of these, 1.5 million have a learning disability, 1.6 million memory or cognition conditions, and 3.9 million with mental health conditions.

This new research from the University of Nottingham’s Nottingham Rights Lab, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, provides the first robust description of the link between cognitive impairment and the exploitation of adults in England.

Previous studies on the topic have highlighted that cognitive impairment can increase vulnerability to exploitation, particularly sexual, financial and criminal exploitation.

The research team, led by Dr Alison Gardner at Nottingham Rights Lab, conducted statistical analysis, reviewed safeguarding reports, and undertook a survey and interviews with practitioners and people living with cognitive impairments to measure the scale of exploitation.

The new report suggests that financial exploitation and ‘mate crime’ (being exploited by someone posing as a friend) were the most commonly observed forms of exploitation, with 28% of practitioners responding to the survey witnessing exploitation at least once a week.

These more frequent forms of exploitation often co-occur alongside others, such as sexual, labour or criminal exploitation.

People living with cognitive impairment also identified ‘everyday exploitation’ as part of their regular experience, including issues like being targeted by phone and online scams.

One interviewee described being groomed online as ‘horrible because they were just using me but pretending they were my friends, but I couldn’t see it at the time. They drained all my money until there was nothing left basically.’

Researchers found that certain social factors, including trauma, isolation and the absence of family support, further increased the chances of exploitation, but the key factor was the presence of someone coercive or controlling.

People experiencing exploitation sometimes found it hard to access crucial support services, sometimes because they were not believed, or because they experienced discrimination or stigma.

“This report draws attention to an uncomfortable truth that adults with cognitive impairment are frequently targeted for exploitation,” Dr Alison Gardner, Associate Professor in Public Policy and Administration, said of the findings. “Crimes against them may go unrecognised, and they often struggle to get the help and support that they need.”

“We hope this research will start a new conversation on how government, frontline services and communities can work together more effectively to help bring this ‘everyday exploitation’ to an end.”

Following the report, Nottingham Rights Lab is making the following recommendations to the UK government to avoid further cases of exploitation of adults with cognitive impairment:
- Improve data collection of the links between cognitive impairment and exploitation
- Improve funding for advocacy organisations and voluntary groups who are doing essential work to help prevent exploitation
- Increase training for local safeguarding practitioners
- Conduct a full review into intervention powers and safeguarding measures

Eleanor Lyons, UK Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said that improving understanding of how people end up in exploitation will help to prevent it and effectively tackle modern slavery.

“This research highlights a clear need for better data collation on how physical and mental impairments intersect with exploitation and improved safeguarding mechanisms.”

Stuart Sale, CEO, Ann Craft Trust, said: “This research highlights the increased risks of exploitation faced by adults with a cognitive impairment.  Highlighting this is crucial and the Ann Craft Trust welcomes the recommendations set out in the report. 

“It is particularly pleasing to see that the research has taken the views and thoughts of adults with lived experience into consideration.  Identifying and developing practical tools that will help practitioners is an innovative and helpful way of affecting true change, and supporting those who are at increased risk of exploitation.”