The development of adult safeguarding in Wales: an interview with Professor John Williams

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a record of the development of adult safeguarding law and policy in Wales. Design/methodology/approach An interview took place between the authors of this paper to explore relevant issues in adult safeguarding and the second author’s contribution(s) to the field. Findings This interview describes the development of safeguarding law and policy within Wales. It considers the dilemmas that practitioners face when balancing respect for a person’s autonomy against suspicions of coercion. It also considers the use of the Human Rights Act 1998 and inherent jurisdiction as well as the need for future legal reform and safeguarding research in Wales. Originality/value This interview is part of an interview series on the history of adult safeguarding.