Official Statistics

Safeguarding adults, England, 2024 to 2025: statistical commentary

Updated 27 November 2025

Applies to England

Introduction

This statistical bulletin provides an overview of findings from the safeguarding adults collection (SAC) for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The SAC is a mandatory data collection from local authorities in England. Safeguarding adults is a statutory duty for councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) in England under the Care Act 2014 to safeguard vulnerable adults from abuse or neglect. The data is collected directly from these councils, which will be referred to as local authorities throughout this report.

This publication presents information about safeguarding concerns that were raised and where enquiries took place during the year. It also contains case details for safeguarding enquiries which concluded during the reporting period. A safeguarding concern is where a local authority is notified about a risk of abuse or neglect of an adult which could instigate an enquiry under local safeguarding procedures. See the ‘Terminology’ section for definitions of terms used on this page.

Main points

During 2024 to 2025:

• there were an estimated 640,240 concerns of abuse raised, compared with 615,530 concerns raised in 2023 to 2024 (an increase of 4.0%). This was a lower annual growth rate compared with 2023 to 2024, when the number of concerns of abuse raised had increased from 587,970 since 2022 to 2023 (an increase of 4.7%)
• there were an estimated 185,270 enquiries that commenced under section 42 of the Care Act 2014 (see the ‘Terminology’ section for more information), compared with 176,560 enquiries in 2023 to 2024 (an increase of 4.9%). These enquiries involved 148,830 individuals, compared with 141,080 individuals in 2023 to 2024 (an increase of 5.5%)
• the number of ‘other’ safeguarding enquiries, where there may not be reasonable cause to suspect the statutory section 42 criteria are met but where local authorities use other powers to make enquiries, was reported to be 10,285, compared with 15,530 enquiries in 2023 to 2024 (a decrease of 33.8%)
• the most common type of risk in section 42 enquiries that concluded in the year was neglect and acts of omission, which accounted for 40.8% of risks. The most common location of the risk was the person’s own home at 51.9%
• in 91.1% of concluded section 42 enquiries where a risk was identified, the reported outcome was that the risk was reduced or removed

These main points of interest are from the accompanying data tables on the Safeguarding adults, England: 2024 to 2025 page.

Timeseries data on the number of safeguarding concerns and enquiries reported by local authorities since 2020 to 2021 is presented in figure 1 below.

Figure 1: number of safeguarding concerns and enquiries, 2020 to 2021 to 2024 to 2025, England

Source: SAC

The main observations from figure 1 are:

• the number of safeguarding concerns has increased each year since 2020 to 2021, although the annual rate of growth has slowed over this period
• the number of section 42 enquiries has increased each year since 2020 to 2021, with the annual rate of growth increasing in 2024 to 2025 relative to the previous year
• following an increase in 2021 to 2022, the number of ‘other’ enquiries has decreased each year. The rate of decrease was higher in 2024 to 2025 relative to the previous year

This data can be found in the key measures table of the accompanying ‘Safeguarding adults, England 2024 to 2025: data tables’ on the Safeguarding adults, England, 2024 to 2025 page.

Terminology

Concluded section 42 enquiries

When the safeguarding investigation is complete and the conclusions and actions have been decided. Only enquiries that concluded within this reporting year should be recorded. This can include cases that began in a previous reporting period.

Location of risk

Where the alleged safeguarding incident took place.

‘Other’ safeguarding enquiry

Where a concern is raised about a risk of abuse but does not meet the 3 criteria under section 42 of the Care Act 2014.

Safeguarding concern

A sign of suspected abuse or neglect that is reported to the local authority or identified by the local authority.

Section 42 safeguarding enquiry

Where a concern is raised about a risk of abuse and this instigates an investigation under safeguarding procedures in accordance with section 42 of the Care Act 2014.

Source of risk

The person who is suspected of carrying out abuse.

Type of risk

The nature of the allegations made. Any of these types of abuse may be perpetrated as a result of deliberate intent, negligence or ignorance.

Data source

The data used in this publication was collated by NHS England from the SAC mandatory data collection of local authorities in England. Data was provided by all 153 local authorities.

Methodology

More detailed information about data sources can be found in the ’background, quality and methodology’ document for these statistics on the Safeguarding adults, England, 2024 to 2025 page.

Contact

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For feedback and any further questions, contact asc.statistics@dhsc.gov.uk.