Social services chiefs say there has been a significant increase in the number of claims about abuse against vulnerable adults in the county.

The number of safeguarding enquiries the county council received in 2015-16 rose by 633 to 3,906 compared with 3,273 the previous year.

That represents an increase of close to 20% over the period, according to a report published this week.

Of the 3,906 concerns about alleged abuse, 37% were discounted and did not go on to trigger full investigations.

However, in 45% of the enquiries had abuse confirmed or partially confirmed.

The increasing number of concerns about abuse co-incides with a rise in the number of vulnerable adults in the care of KCC but less money being provided by the government for care.

KCC says the increase is related to an “increase in reporting, rather than abuse.”

Cllr Graham Gibbens, KCC cabinet member for adult social care, said: “I welcome the fact more people are recognising abuse and reporting it, which means we can do more to address it.”

“We believe this is an increase in reporting, rather than a rise in abuse itself, and it has two main causes. First, the Care Act in 2014 gave us new safeguarding duties, requiring us to make enquiries when someone with care and support needs is at risk of or suspected of being abused.”

“It also placed a statutory responsibility on all agencies to report abuse, which has led to a significant increase in referrals. KCC also provides extensive adult protection training to its staff and the independent sector, resulting in a rise in staff reporting suspected abuse.”

High-profile national cases reported in the media had also contributed to an increasing awareness, he added.

There are now 35,440 people in Kent supported by the county council, compared to 34,424 in 2014-15 - an increase of 1,016.

Nearly 22,000 of these are over the age of 65. The council budget for adult care is £340m this year.