Hampshire County Council has appointed its first adult protection officer to prevent abuse of vulnerable people.

Jane Lawson, a qualified social worker, comes to the post from Portsmouth City Council where she held a similar position.

Her job will be to spearhead Hampshire's policy on protecting vulnerable adults, including the elderly and adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or mental ill health.

This will involve raising awareness of adult abuse-sexual, physical, psychological, neglect and stealing from them.

Mrs Lawson (43) said: "Adult abuse only began to be talked about in the late 1980s.

"Now, 15 years down the line, social services departments have been given a mandatory role by the Department of Health in co-ordinating the efforts of organisations in trying to prevent and tackle abuse of vulnerable adults.

"I think it is an increasingly significant problem and it is one that has remained hidden for far too long."

The number of those abused is unknown because a national survey has never taken place - despite appeals by campaigners to get the Government to fund research.

A study for a Channel 4 documentary in the early 1990s estimated that between two and 10% of elderly people are abused.

Mrs Lawson will be involved in training staff in the public and private sector to prevent abuse as well as responding to incidences and allegations of abuse.

The Government requires all social services departments to co-ordinate investigations of allegations of abuse in co-operation with the police and other agencies.

Mrs Lawson, who lives in Winchester, said part of her job would be to compile statistics on the numbers abused across the county and the most at-risk groups.

This information would be used to target social services resources.

Mrs Lawson said there were many similarities with child protection work, but some key differences.

"Adults have the right to remain in their situation even if we think they are at risk. We can't rescue everyone because we think that is the right thing to do."