§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of basic training for police officers relates to mental illness; and what proportion of that training is about the Mental Health Act 1983. [79673]
§ Mr. BoatengI understand that probationers in both the Metropolitan Police and other forces in England and Wales receive formal training on mental illness amounting to a total of about half a day during the course of their probationer training. In both cases, this training is supplemented by practical role play exercises which can be used to reinforce learning. In addition, a considerable 15W time is devoted to vulnerable witnesses and arrested persons during the course of lessons on the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, Codes of Practice and interviewing.
It is also open to forces and Metropolitan Police areas to provide additional training on this subject if there is a particular need for it locally.
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people from (i) black and (ii) other ethnic minorities were detained by the police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1998; [79676]
(2) how many people were detained by the police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1998; [79675]
(3) what change there was in the amount of police time spent dealing with mentally disordered people over the five years from 1993 to 1998; [79686]
(4) how many injuries occurred to (a) persons being conveyed and (b) the police when police were involved in conveying people to hospital or a place of safety under the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1998; [79687]
(5) what was the average number of hours per week that police officers were involved in conveying people to hospital or a place of safety under the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1998; [79685]
(6) if he intends to issue guidance to police regarding the restraint of people known to have a mental illness for the purposes of conveying people to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983; [79674]
(7) what the average number of hours per week spent by the police detaining people under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 was in 1998; [79677]
(8) how many offences by the person concerned were recorded following a disposal under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in 1998. [79678]
§ Mr. BoatengThe information requested about police activity in respect of mentally disordered people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 is not collected centrally. The Self-Defence and Restraint Committee of the Association of Chief Police Officers is currently revising its manual on "conflict resolution" and it is expected that this will contain guidance regarding the restraint of people known to have mental illness. I have been advised that this will be issued later this year.