MPs back toughening of mental health restraint laws after Tory filibuster fears
2 min read
A bill aiming to protect mental health patients from excessive restraint took a leap forward in the House of Commons today, despite fears it could once again be talked out by Conservative MPs.
The Mental Health Units (Use of Force) Bill was inspired by the case of 23-year-old Olaseni Lewis, who died in 2010 days after being restrained by 11 Metropolitan Police officers at Bethlem Royal Hospital in South London.
Known as 'Seni's Law', the bill - tabled by Labour MP Steve Reed and backed by the Government - ran out of Commons time when it was debated last month after Conservative Philip Davies spoke for nearly two-and-a-half hours.
His move prompted accusations of filibustering - a process by which MPs deliberately speak at length to stop a bill progressing - and there were fears it could meet the same fate in today's rescheduled debate.
However, the Bill received an unopposed third reading in the House of Commons this morning as Mr Lewis's family looked on - and it will now go to the Lords for further consideration.
If backed by the Lords, the bill will require mental health units to keep a record of any use of force by staff, while police working with mental health patients will have to wear bodyworn cameras.
Mr Reed told MPs the law would provide a "lasting and proud legacy for Seni", adding: "The purpose of this Bill is to make sure this can't happen again."
Backing the law, Health Minister Jackie Doyle-Price said: "Physical restraint should only be used as a last resort and our guidance to the NHS is clear on this, which is why we are fully supporting the system changes the bill sets out to achieve."
Last month's talking out of the bill came on the same day that fellow Conservative backbencher Sir Christopher Chope came under fire for blocking plans to outlaw the taking of 'upskirt' photos.
Sir Christopher today defended that action, saying he wanted to make it "clear to the government, parliamentary colleagues, and the wider public, including social media" that objecting to bills passing "on the nod" was "not a commentary on the merits of the contents of the bill but a demand for proper scrutiny".
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