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Written question asked by Louise Haigh (Labour) on Monday, 3 July 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 6 July 2017 (named day). It was answered by Nick Hurd (Conservative) on Thursday, 6 July 2017 on behalf of the Home Office.

Police Custody: Mental Illness

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to issue guidance on the circumstances in which an adult with a mental disorder may be removed to a police station under section 81 of the Police and Crime Act 2017.

Answer

The circumstances in which a police station may be used as place of safety for an adult with a mental disorder will be specified by regulations. These regulations are currently being finalised and will be laid in Parliament as soon as possible thereafter.

The Government will also issue guidance on the implementation of all of the amendments to sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 included in sections 80-83 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017, in time for their coming into force.

Data on the number of people with a mental disorder removed to police stations (under section 135 or 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983) since January 2017 is not yet centrally available. Data for the period between 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 will be included in Home Office statistics covering 2016-17, due for publication in October 2017. The latest published data showed a 54% reduction in the use of police stations between 2014-15 (4,537 occasions) and 2015-16 (2,100 occasions) for all ages.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
2409
Session
2017-19
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Mental illness Police custody
Legislation
Policing and Crime Act 2017
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk