Detention of mentally ill in cells down by a third
Emilio Casalicchio
| Mind
Police are detaining fewer people in cells who display mental illness, according to figures from forces in England and Wales.
People were detained in cells under the Mental Health Act 4,537 times in 2014/15 compared with 6,667 times the year before – a fall of almost a third.
Announcing a crackdown on the detention of those with mental illness last month, Home Secretary Theresa May said: “Nobody wins when the police are sent to look after people suffering from mental health problems. Vulnerable people don’t get the care they need and deserve, and the police can’t get on with the job they are trained to do.”
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