VULNERABLE adults in Wirral are at increased risk of abuse and neglect because arrangements for their protection are inadequate, according to the Audit Commission.

The area has been given a red flag for its safeguarding arrangements of vulnerable adults, under the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA).

In response, the council has prepared an action plan and inspectors said the latest information indicates some of the actions are starting to work.

The council said it believed the Audit Commission was “wrong” to hand out a red flag and said it was misleading: “We take very seriously our duty to protect vulnerable adults in our borough,” said John Webb, director of adult social services.

“The Audit Commission finding relates to historic data.

“Both issues were addressed earlier this year, and up-to-date figures show dramatic improvement.”

Separately, Wirral Council has been given a score of two out of four, as a local authority that is judged by the Audit Commission to be “performing adequately”.

Wirral Council leader Steve Foulkes, said overall he was pleased with the results of the survey, which showed Wirral delivering improvements.