Support service launched for people with mental illness

Hafal has been awarded £149,000 by Comic Relief to deliver the project

People with mental illnesses in Wales who come into contact with the criminal justice system will be able to access a new support service from Thursday.

The charity Hafal has launched 'Access to Justice' to provide a single point of contact for people with mental illness, probation officers and police.

Its chief executive Alun Thomas said the project would support "some of the most vulnerable".

That includes people accused of a crime as well as victims and witnesses.