Safeguarding concerns in Hackney have tripled in the past year, with the number of reported cases rising from 1,780 in 2024/25 to 2,798 in 2025/26, a report presented to the Adults Health and Integration Scrutiny Commission has revealed. This significant increase has placed considerable pressure on frontline services.
Claire Solly, Independent Chair of the City and Hackney Safeguarding Adults Board (CHSAB), presented the annual report for 2025-26, detailing the rise in concerns. She stated that There is an increase in the volume of adult safeguarding concerns being reported. There is an increase in complexity and that is putting pressure on our front doors.
Georgina Diba, Director of Adult Social Care and Operations, further elaborated that concerns are triaged daily by a small but very busy and active team
who ensure each concern is addressed. She acknowledged that safeguarding is sometimes used as an escalation route for other issues, which contributes to the pressure on frontline services. The partnership is actively reviewing resources and risks through its improvement board, considering short-term measures to better manage the increased caseload.
Self-neglect remains the most common form of abuse reported, accounting for 34.3% of concerns. Neglect and Acts of Omission followed at 16.1%, with financial abuse at 15.4%.
The report also highlighted that while national trends show safeguarding concerns predominantly affecting older adults, in Hackney, the largest proportion of concerns (51%) were for residents aged 26-64.
The CHSAB's strategic priorities for 2026/27 include strengthening community engagement, improving quality assurance and learning, and enhancing responses to self-neglect and financial abuse. The full report can be found in the Public reports pack for the Adults Health and Integration Scrutiny Commission meeting on Tuesday 22 September 2026.
