Report a concern
If you know you or someone is in immediate danger or if a crime is being committed, call 999 now and ask for the police.
Immediate danger
If you can only say one thing, say your location to the call operator (police call handler). If you need to remain quiet, dial 999, then 55. This is known as the silent solution.
The following will take place during the silent solution
- the operator will play an automated message while remaining on the call. It will prompt you to press 55
- the operator will then prompt you to make a noise, tap your phone, cough, or press 55 into your phone
- if you still cannot talk, the police will continue to communicate through sound and yes/no questions. Listen for their prompts so they can help and find your location.
If you think there has been a crime, but it is not an emergency, call 101
Concerned for an adult
If you are
concerned for an adult at risk without known care and support
needs, please visit our Domestic Abuse pages for services
available to help.
If you are
concerned for an adult at risk with care and support needs, there
are ways you can help:
- try speaking to the person about what you have noticed. Give the person the opportunity to talk, and listen carefully to what they tell you
- it is important to stay calm if they tell you about their abuse. Some people want to speak but worry how you might react
- never promise you won't tell a professional, as you may need to ask for help. Some people may ask you to promise not to tell anyone else about the abuse
- remember to treat the person as an adult and not a child. Even if they appear confused or disoriented, they may still react to what you are saying and how you say it
- remember never to lead someone into saying something
- try not to be over-protective or treat them like a victim
- offer to assist them to seek help.
If you are a professional reporting on behalf of a patient/client and you have any questions regarding the form or the reporting process, email safeguardingconcerns@iow.gov.uk.
Who can help
When appropriate, explain who can help:
- health or social care professionals
- police
- home carers and care home employees
- volunteers and advocates.
Ask them what they want you to do, and who they want you to contact on their behalf.
If you are worried about someone’s safety, please tell us by reporting your concern. You can report a concern anonymously or, if safe to do so, provide your contact details to us for feedback about your concern.
What happens next
We will listen to you and treat your concerns seriously. And we will work with you and the individual concerned to make sure you are both safe and protected.
Once a concern is reported to us, if you provided your personal details to receive feedback, we will respond to you within 24 hours if the concern is raised during normal business hours. It may take up to 72 hours for a response if received over the weekend. (Do not use the Report a concern form if the person you are worried about is in immediate danger. Instead, call 999.)
If you preferred to report your concern anonymously, you will receive no feedback, but we will receive and respond to the concern within 24 to 72 hours.
You can visit our Safeguarding Adults Board page for more information.
Office hours
Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm
Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm
Please only use the out of hours number outside of office hours when in crisis and when immediate response is needed.