People with mental health issues are dying in police and prison custody?
Written on 17th May 2014 by Sylvia Lowery
It is estimated that half of those who die in police custody have a mental health issue. Acording to the Ministry of Justice there were 74 death that were self inflicted in 2013. Individuals are detained by police under the 1993 Mental Health Act. These individuals are deemed to be in need of ‘immediate care and control’. Why are so many of those who are mentally ill dying?
Individuals who have a meltdown or a public incident will be detained by the Police under the 1983 Mental Heath Act. The Community Care Act (1990) states that indivduals who are detained for mental health reason should only be taken into police custody if there is no other option. However in 2011-12 9,000 individuals who were detained for mental health reasons ended up in police custody. This is at least in part due to a severe shortage of beds within the NHS which is a growing crisis. According to information gained through the freedom of information act 1700 mental health beds have been closed since April 2011. The Police do not have the manpower or resources to properly care for these very sick individuals.
Thomas Orchard 32 who had Schizophrenia died in police custody after being restrained. His family say he should have been sectioned and received medical care rather than been treated as a criminal. This way of treating the most vulnerable is simply unacceptable.
A number of individuals who take their own life while in prison have a mental health condition. This can lead to devastating consequences.
Jake Hardy took his own life while in Hindley a youth offenders institution. Jake
Jake Hardy age 17 took his own life in youth custody. he had mental health issues, a learning disability and a history of self harm. He complained of bullying but it appears that his problems were ignored.
had learning difficulties, mental health problems, ADHD and a history of self harming. Jake was unable to cope with the bullying and took his own life. During the inquest the prison officer who had been assigned to Jake admitted that he knew nothing of Jake’s history and had thought he was a big lad and could take care of himself. Jake should have received the care and support he needed while in police custody.
Jake was only 17 and his case fits with shocking statistics about self harm among the prison population. In 2011 15 to 20 year olds accounted for 11% of the prison population but were involved in 21% of self harming incidents. A number of those who are within these statistics will be on the Autism Spectrum.
As part of Mental Health Awareness week I wanted to highlight these very serious issues.
In my next article I will write about how individuals with Autism are failed by the justice system.
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It’s. sad that the police + prison officers are not train to deal with mental health issues. If there are so many going through the system then I think it should be a part of basic training. Let’s hope things will change.
The first step is for people in authority to be trained that mental illness is just that, illness, not a character flaw or moral failing. After that, compassion and care comes more easily…