More mental health teams to be based at police stations and courts Another thirteen trial schemes are to launch in April 2015 to place mental health professionals in police stations and courts. These schemes aim to ensure people who come into the criminal justice system with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and other vulnerabilities are recognised and are promptly referred into health and other services to get the treatment or support they need.
These new schemes, called Liaison and Diversion (L&D) will join the existing ten areas that have been taking part in a two year trial that began in April 2014, to join up police and courts with mental health services. This will mean half of the English population will be covered by such schemes from April 2015. The model will be independently evaluated to inform a business case for services to cover all of the English population by 2017/18.
By identifying someone brought into a police station or involved in court proceedings who may have a mental health problem or other vulnerabilities, L&D schemes can ensure an individual is supported through the criminal justice system and into the right mental health or social care service. It can also help the police and courts to do their jobs by providing up-to-date information on a person’s state of mind; as well as benefit the individual’s health, contribute to a reduction in re-offending, and reduce the likelihood that the individual will reach crisis-point.
For many offenders who have a mental health issue or vulnerability, prison can make their situation worse. Nearly half of all prisoners have anxiety or depression, and nearly a third of all 13-18 year old who offend have a mental health issue.
The new model has already seen over 8,400 children, young people and adults come through the service while going through the justice process.
The new L&D schemes are now delivering a service to everyone who needs it regardless of their age. Services are available 24/7 and ensure that across the trial areas they will be provided with the same level of care and service.
The thirteen additional schemes will be:
These new schemes, called Liaison and Diversion (L&D) will join the existing ten areas that have been taking part in a two year trial that began in April 2014, to join up police and courts with mental health services. This will mean half of the English population will be covered by such schemes from April 2015. The model will be independently evaluated to inform a business case for services to cover all of the English population by 2017/18.
By identifying someone brought into a police station or involved in court proceedings who may have a mental health problem or other vulnerabilities, L&D schemes can ensure an individual is supported through the criminal justice system and into the right mental health or social care service. It can also help the police and courts to do their jobs by providing up-to-date information on a person’s state of mind; as well as benefit the individual’s health, contribute to a reduction in re-offending, and reduce the likelihood that the individual will reach crisis-point.
For many offenders who have a mental health issue or vulnerability, prison can make their situation worse. Nearly half of all prisoners have anxiety or depression, and nearly a third of all 13-18 year old who offend have a mental health issue.
The new model has already seen over 8,400 children, young people and adults come through the service while going through the justice process.
The new L&D schemes are now delivering a service to everyone who needs it regardless of their age. Services are available 24/7 and ensure that across the trial areas they will be provided with the same level of care and service.
The thirteen additional schemes will be:
- Northamptonshire Criminal Justice Team whole of Northamptonshire
