Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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A criminal use of police cells? The use of police custody as a place of safety for people with mental health needs
- Authors:
- HM INSPECTORATE OF CONSTABULARY, et al
- Publisher:
- HM Inspectorate of Constabulary
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 59
- Place of publication:
- London
This joint inspection by Her Majesty‟s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC); Her Majesty‟s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP); the Care Quality Commission (CQC); and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) examines the extent to which police custody is used as a place of safety under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. The inspection wanted to examine why, despite guidance, codes of practice, and recommendations made in earlier studies, police custody continues to be used so frequently. It also focused on partnership and multi-agency working and how effective the police service and health partners are in working together recording and monitoring the use of section 136; and how data are collected, used and shared between partners. The report also considers training and staff awareness of policies and procedures regarding the use of section 136; and the perspectives of those detained under section 136 and their views on their time in police custody. Fieldwork took place during May and June 2012, and comprised inspection of seven police forces (Kent; Lancashire; Leicestershire; Norfolk; North Wales; Suffolk; and Sussex), two Metropolitan Police boroughs (Bromley and Lewisham), and the associated mental health trusts. The report recommends that Codes of Practice should be be amended to bring down detention time to a maximum of 24 hours in police custody. Once this period has elapsed, any assessments which are needed should be undertaken in a hospital. The Mental Health Act 1983 should be amended to remove a police station as a place of safety for those detained under section 136, except on an exceptional basis. (Original abstract)
Blue remembered skills: mental health awareness training for police officers
- Authors:
- CUMMINGS Ian, JONES Stuart
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Adult Protection, 12(3), August 2010, pp.14-19.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Police officers can have a key role to play in situations where individuals are experiencing some sort of crisis relating to their mental health. Despite the fact that this is a very important facet of day to day police work, it is an area that is neglected in police training. The Bradley Report has raised a number of important questions regarding the treatment of individuals who are experiencing mental health problems and find themselves in the criminal justice system. One of the key recommendations is that professional staff working across criminal justice organisations should receive increased training in this area. This paper outlines two approaches to the training of police officers in the mental health field. The first is a joint working initiative between Hywel NHS Trust and Dyfed Powys Police. In this training, all student officers receive 2 days training in first aid in mental health, and spend 4 days at the acute psychiatric unit where they become personally involved in the care of individuals who are experiencing acute distress. The second approach comprised a classroom-based training course directed at custody sergeants. The article goes on to consider the most effective models of training for police officers.
Statutory disclosure guidance
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Home Office
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Home Office
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 6
- Place of publication:
- London
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
Revised statutory code of practice for chief officers of police to help them decided what police information to disclose during Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. The revised guidance includes advice on disclosing information relating to mental health, and advises whether and when to include information about detentions in police cells or health-based places of safety when someone experiencing a mental health crisis comes into contact with the police. Information from Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks is used by an employer to decide whether someone is a suitable person to work with children or vulnerable adults. (Edited publisher abstract)
Policing and mental health: eleventh report of session 2014–15: report, together with formal minutes
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Parliament. House of Commons. Home Affairs Committee
- Publisher:
- TSO
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 42
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines the prevalence of people with mental health illnesses in the criminal justice system, focusing on what happens when people who experience mental illness come into contact with the police. The report looks at issues around detention under the Mental Health Act, including detention of children, police and health service collaboration, and training. It raises concerns about the extent to which frontline officers are increasingly spending their time helping people with mental health problems and about the use of police cells as a place of safety. The report main findings and recommendations include: police cells should no longer be stated as a place of safety for those detained under section 136; too many NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are failing in their duty to provide enough health-based places of safety that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are adequately staffed; the police need to make sure they use their powers in relation to mental health correctly, to reduce the numbers detained and so reduce pressure on both the police and the NHS; the NHS needs to make places available to look after children experiencing a mental health crisis locally; people encountering a mental health crisis should be transported to hospital in an ambulance if an emergency services vehicle is needed; the Government should give a clear commitment that funding will be made available for schemes which have been proven to be cost-effective. (Edited publisher abstract)
There to help 2: ensuring provision of appropriate adults for vulnerable adults detained or interviewed by police
- Author:
- BATH Chris
- Publisher:
- National Appropriate Adult Network
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 115
- Place of publication:
- Ashford
Based on Freedom of Information Act requests to police forces in England and Wales, this report provides an updated on the need for, and access to, appropriate adults (AA) for vulnerable adults in police custody. Vulnerable adults may have a mental illness, learning disability, brain injury or autism. The report provides information on: the identification of need for an AA amongst adult suspects; the application of the AA safeguard (the extent to which vulnerable adult suspects actually receive the support of an AA); and the availability of organised AA provision in England and Wales. Based on police figures, the report finds that in the 12 months ending 31st March 2018 at least 111,445 police detentions and voluntary interviews of vulnerable adult suspects were carried out without the support of an 'appropriate adult'. It also found that where police had no access to an organised AA scheme, they were half as likely to record an adult as needing one. Despite being a key recommendation of There to Help (2015), local authorities are only legally required to run schemes for children, not for vulnerable adults. The report makes a number of recommendations. (Edited publisher abstract)
Guidance for the implementation of changes to police powers and places of safety provisions in the Mental Health Act 1983
- Authors:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health, GREAT BRITAIN. Home Office
- Publishers:
- Great Britain. Department of Health, Great Britain. Home Office
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 33
- Place of publication:
- London
This guidance provides advice on putting into practice changes to the provisions on police powers and places of safety, in the Mental Health Act 1983. The changes relate to police powers to act in respect of people experiencing a mental health crisis to ensure their care and safety. The changes include that a police station can no longer be used as a place of safety for anyone under 18; that a police station can only be used as a place of safety for adults in specific circumstances; and a reduction of the maximum detention period to 24 hours. Sections covered in the document are: powers to remove to, or keep at, a place of safety; places that can be used as a place of safety; arrival and stay at places of safety, including period of detention; and suggestions for implementing and monitoring the changes in local areas. The final section provides a listing of relevant legislation, national standards and guidance, and national data sources. The document will be of particular interest to the police, mental health services, clinical commissioning groups and ambulance services. The guidance in not statutory. It is relevant to both England and Wales. (Edited publisher abstract)
Crime and disabled people: measures of disability-related harassment
- Authors:
- COLEMAN Nick, SYKES Wendy
- Publisher:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 120
- Place of publication:
- London
Reports on the latest data about crime experienced by disabled people, including disability-related hate crime, in England, Wales and Scotland. It also covers the reporting of crime by disabled people, satisfaction with police handling of crime incidents and worry about being a victim of crime. The findings are based on analysis of The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) The Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS), which uses a sample of adults aged 16 and over, as well as a sample of 10-15 year olds for England and Scotland. It updates an earlier analysis, ‘Crime and disabled people’, published by the Commission in 2013 and provides an analysis of change over time. The results found a decline in the total incidence of hate crime in England and Wales from 438,000 to 338,000 per year, reflecting a decrease in overall crime levels. However, in most cases experience of crime remained higher for disabled people compared with non-disabled people, with differences greatest in youngest age groups. In England and Wales experience of crime was also higher for disabled people for people with people with mental health conditions, autism, attention deficit disorder or Asperger’s syndrome. In England and Wales, disabled adults are also significantly more likely to worry about crime than non-disabled people, 46.4 per cent compared with 36.0 per cent of non-disabled adults. The analysis find some improvements in the incidence of crime and hate crime and some positive trends in the experience of crime and satisfaction with how crime is handled by the police. However, the report concludes that improvements for disabled people are generally being experienced at a slower rate than for non-disabled people. (Edited publisher abstract)
There to help: ensuring provision of appropriate adults for mentally vulnerable adults detained or interviewed by police
- Authors:
- BATH Chris, et al
- Publisher:
- National Appropriate Adult Network
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 88
- Place of publication:
- Ashford
Report to examine appropriate adults (AA) arrangements for vulnerable adults who are detained or interviewed by police, identify shortcomings in provision and present recommendations for ensuring full AA provision for all vulnerable adults. The project involved a review of existing literature and law; data collected from police forces, liaison and diversion services, AA services and custody officers; and interviews and consultation involving senior stakeholders and individuals with direct experience of the criminal justice system. The main findings identified significant shortcomings in current AA provision for mentally vulnerable adult suspects, particularly in terms of: inadequate police practices with respect to identification of suspects’ vulnerabilities and the need for AAs, and the recording of relevant data; limited availability of AAs; variable quality of AAs. It found that many vulnerable adults did not receive the support of an AA or receive it only for part of the custody process. Barriers to the provision of adequate services included: the absence of statutory duties either to secure or to provide AAs for vulnerable adults; lack of appropriate training and screening tools for police; time pressures in the custody suite; diminishing public sector funding and a lack of clarity over responsibility for commissioning. The report makes 10 recommendations to improve the level and quality of provision. (Edited publisher abstract)
Inquiry into non-natural deaths in detention of adults with mental health conditions, 2010-13. Evidence from the families of those who have died; collected on family listening day event, 7 November 2014, organised by INQUEST
- Author:
- TULLY Chris
- Publisher:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 35
- Place of publication:
- London
Report of a family listening day event held to help the Equality and Human Rights Commission gather evidence from the families of adults with mental health conditions who had died in detention. A total of 15 families attended and were joined by INQUEST staff (a charity experienced in providing in-depth specialist casework service to bereaved families) and seven panel members from the Commission. The report provides evidence from the families of adults who had died in detention in the following settings: after contact with the police (seven cases represented by nine family members); in psychiatric settings (four cases represented by seven family members); and in prison (four cases represented by eight family member). Themes identified included: failure to provide appropriate treatment; failure to listen to families concerns regarding treatment; use of force and restraint; lack of bed spaces and place of safety provision following detention under the Mental Health Act; lack of support and services prior to entering psychiatric detention; failure to consult families to discuss appropriate treatment and care; and lack of disclosure of information whilst in detention. Groups also had the opportunity to discuss their family bereavements within the context of a number of key themes: the mental health needs of those who died, any factors which exacerbated their problems, the suitability of support provided to meet their needs, difficulties encountered, the investigation process post death and any examples of good practice. (Edited publisher abstract)
Guidance on responding to people with mental ill health or learning disabilities
- Author:
- NATIONAL POLICING IMPROVEMENT AGENCY
- Publisher:
- National Policing Improvement Agency
- Publication year:
- 2010
- Pagination:
- 208p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
This guidance provides advice to help police respond more effectively to people who are experiencing mental ill health or who have a learning disability. The guidance is a comprehensive document, providing advice on needs that arise in either a criminal justice capacity (where the person is a victim, witness, suspect or offender) or in a health care capacity (where the police may be acting in support of others who are dealing with someone experiencing a mental health crisis). The separate sections of the guidance cover: general operational guidance; mental health principles; operational police responses to victims and witnesses; use of police powers under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Mental Capacity Act 2005; operational police responses to suspects and offenders; and managing police responses. An aim of the guidance is to support more people with mental ill health being accommodated in health facilities rather than in police custody through better implementation of the Mental Health Act 1983. It also aims to provide an improved response to victims, witnesses, suspects and offenders leading to a reduction in repeat victimisation and offending, and increased reporting to the police of crimes against people with mental ill health or learning disabilities (including discrimination, victimisation and harassment).