MORE than 4,000 safeguarding concerns were flagged about vulnerable adults in Cheshire East during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic – compared with 600 in Cheshire West and Chester.

Age UK said abuse and neglect may have thrived behind closed doors throughout periods of lockdown, contributing to a stark national rise in the number of concerns flagged with councils between April 2020 and March this year.

NHS Digital figures show 4,250 concerns about adults with care and support needs were reported to the council in Cheshire East in that period, up from the 3,685 recorded the year before – a 15 per cent difference.

But figures also show the number of concerns about those in Cheshire West and Chester fell during the period to 675, down from the 720 the year before – a six per cent drop.

Nationally, nearly 500,000 safeguarding concerns were flagged that year, up five per cent from 2019-20, with the very elderly – those aged over 85 – most likely to be the subject.

Caroline Abrahams, from Age UK, said the abuse of older people was a serious concern, adding: "Hundreds of thousands of older people are being affected a year and we expect the pandemic to have made things worse.

"That's because of the heightened stress across our society and because abuse and neglect tend to thrive behind closed doors, of which there have been more than usual these last 18 months or so."

If councils believe a vulnerable adult is experiencing or is at risk of abuse or neglect, they must carry out a Section 42 enquiry to determine whether action should be taken.

Around 1,150 such enquiries were launched in Cheshire East during the year to March – more than the 900 that commenced in 2019-20.

Roughly 1,145 such investigations concluded in 2020-21, with the council finding that the highest proportion of allegations in the area were linked to neglect and acts of omission.

The highest number of incidents took place in a person's own home with the source of risk in Cheshire East most often someone the person knew.

Meanwhile, 295 enquiries were launched in Cheshire West and Chester during that time – fewer than the 360 that commenced in 2019-20.

Roughly 375 such investigations concluded in 2020-21, with the council finding that the highest proportion of allegations in the area were linked to neglect and acts of omission.

The highest number of incidents took place in a person's own home with the source of risk in Cheshire West and Chester most often a service provider.

In Cheshire East, there were 520 enquiries involving neglect or acts of omission, 295 concerning physical abuse, 260 about psychological abuse and 220 investigations into financial abuse.

In Cheshire West and Chester, there were 180 enquiries involving neglect or acts of omission, 115 concerning physical abuse, 85 about psychological abuse and 75 investigations into financial abuse.

According to the figures – which are rounded to the nearest five – there were more than 9,000 cases linked to sexual abuse or exploitation investigated nationally.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the Government was supporting councils to carry out safeguarding duties effectively and had provided billions in non ring-fenced funding to allow local authorities to continue delivering services throughout the pandemic.