Matthew Ellis, Staffordshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, has vowed to keep the pressure on mental health service provision in Staffordshire to ensure individuals have access to suitable places of safety rather than being locked up in police cells.
Mr Ellis last week expressed concerns that progress over the last six months with mental health provision in Staffordshire had been undone since June as the number of people detained in police custody under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act had started to rise again. He highlighted that one of the problems was due to the mental health suite at the Harplands being closed or unavailable on several occasions since June.
Although the NHS trust made assurances that beds would be available, the Harplands’ mental health suite was again closed last weekend. Since the start of June, 11 people have been detained in police custody under Section 136 while, at the same time, the suite has been closed.
Mr Ellis said: “A year ago the number of people suffering from mental illness that were detained in a police cell was around 40 per month. Over the past six months, since we’ve provided additional investment into mental health services, this has gradually dropped to between ten and 15. This is still too many when individuals are simply ill, not criminals, but things are definitely going in the right direction as the joined-up working is starting to take hold.
“Sadly, since June the numbers have started to rise which is heart-breaking following all the hard work and progress we’ve made on this difficult issue. It’s also a travesty for those people being detained in custody as a place of last resort when they should be receiving effective treatment elsewhere.
“I was initially reassured that the North Staffordshire Healthcare NHS Trust had acknowledged the recent problems police have experienced but was then flabbergasted to find out the suite had again closed for three days the day after assurances had been made by the trust.
“It’s simply not acceptable that people with mental health issues are held in police custody cells rather than being given the support they need and I will not rest until this matter is resolved.”
Mr Ellis will now seek urgent talks with the NHS trust to resolve the issue.
