DoH announces extra mental health services for arrested

The Department of Health (DoH) has invested an extra £12 million into mental health services for those in prison.

The funding will be spent over two years to help expand the services that make mental health assessments available to those who have been arrested.

Figures show that around 50,000 people annually are assessed by liaison and diversion services following arrest, with 70 per cent requiring mental health support. The extra £12 million in funding will extend NHS England liaison and diversion services from 50 per cent population coverage to 75 per cent by 2018.

The funding is aimed at providing greater support between the police and the NHS in helping people with mental ill health, learning disabilities or autism receive the correct care. The move will ensure fair access to justice, limit the number of court hearings and avoid costly adjournments and periods on remand.

Commenting on the increased investment, Alistair Burt, minister for mental health, said: “We have made monumental strides in the way we think about and treat mental illness in this country in the last few decades – but people with a mental illness, learning disabilities or autism still need support when they come into contact with the criminal justice system.

“Expanding the successful liaison and diversion scheme will help make sure these factors are taken into account so more vulnerable people have their needs considered.”