§ Lord Rowallanasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many crimes of violence have been committed in each of the last five years by mentally ill people released from secure units into the community on the ground of shortage of accommodation.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)The data required to answer this question are not collected centrally.
Mentally ill patients are discharged or transferred from secure units only when their clinical team is 211WA satisfied that they are ready to move on. Such decisions take account of a range of factors including any risk the patient may pose to him or herself or to others.