§ 22. Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reduce the number of mentally disordered offenders in the prison population.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe guidance in "The Sentence of the Court" is now being revised to encourage courts to 505W avoid sending mentally disturbed people to prison if at all possible, for example by using their powers to remand to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983, or make attendance at or admission to hospital a condition of bail. We are also preparing a circular to the police and courts on provision for mentally disturbed offenders.