Mental health police detention time limit plan

Police stations should only be used as places of safety in exceptional circumstances, ministers say

Assessing people with suspected mental health problems more quickly when they are held by police has been proposed.

Ministers want to ensure people are assessed within three hours and held no longer than 12 hours, compared to the current legal limit of 72 hours.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said the code of practice needed "updating and revising" to protect people's rights.

Police said it would help reduce, and eventually stop, cases of ill people not suspected of crimes being in cells.

A code of practice offering guidance on the 1983 Mental Health Act to health professionals and police in Wales was first drawn up in 2008.

'Completely inappropriate'

Ministers are consulting on plans to strengthen the rights and involvement of patients in the way they are treated by the authorities.

"Updating and revising the code is an important part of ensuring people's rights are protected when they are detained," said Mr Drakeford.

South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Jon Stratford, the Welsh lead on mental health issues for the National Police Chiefs' Council, said the proposals were "further progress towards driving down, and ultimately eradicating, the use of police cells as a place of safety for persons detained under the Mental Health Act".

"We feel strongly that police cells should not be used to house persons who are unwell and not suspected to have committed any offences."

Mr Stratford said police were working with other agencies "to prevent the need for this practice and improve the care we jointly provide to people in mental health crisis".

Rhiannon Hedge, policy and campaigns officer at charity Mind Cymru, praised police for doing a "brilliant job" but said a cell was "a completely inappropriate environment for someone who is distressed and vulnerable".

"Too many people end up in police cells because there are no hospital beds available so we need more options to be available," she said.

"There is a long way to go but this consultation is encouraging."