Legal News

Chair of the Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing, Lord Adebowale, has said that improvements made to the treatment of mental health patients in police custody are “evidence of progress”.

Lord Adebowale was visiting the new Wood Green Custody Centre in Haringey, north London, with Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe when he made his comments.

The custody centre was designed according to recommendations made by Lord Adebowale in a report published in 2013. The report examined deaths or injuries among 55 mental health patients who had been held in police custody – or who had been in contact with the police – and who suffered harm as a result.

Lord Adebowale said during his visit to Wood Green Custody Centre that he was “very pleased with the facilities”:

“We did make some very clear recommendations in the report that the Met Police take a strong partnership with the NHS so that there was a custody suite available for people with mental health issues.”

Some police stations now have mental health nurses on duty to help assess mental health patients who are detained under the Mental Health Act and held at a police station if no place is available for assessment at a specialist mental health unit.

However, several high-profile cases involving death or injury have raised awareness that mental health patients need to be held in a place of safety, rather than a police cell.

“There was a significant risk of people with mental health issues being further damaged in custody,” said Lord Adebowale.

“This service makes it less likely of being people being damaged or killed in custody. It’s a massive change.

“People in custody should be safe above all. They should get medical support,” he added.

Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of specialist mental health solicitors and can advise mental health patients on access to treatment and detention under the Mental Health Act.

Duncan Lewis mental health solicitors regularly visit police stations and hospitals – and in some cases may be able to advise the next of kin or carer of a mental health patient, including initiating treatment reviews, where appropriate.

For expert help with mental health law, contact the Duncan Lewis Mental Health Solicitors Helpline on 0203 114 1124.