§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is in respect of restraint of people with a severe mental illness by methods based on the infliction of pain. [100719]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe restraint of any person must be within the law, which requires that the force used to prevent crime or to apprehend a suspect must be reasonable in all the circumstances.
Police guidelines on restraint provide a range of options based on the use of an appropriate necessary level of force. It is not, of course, always possible to determine immediately whether a person who needs to be restrained or apprehended is suffering from mental disorder.
385W
§ Mr. BrakeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken in response to the recommendations of the Police Complaints Authority on raising officers' awareness of the nature and impact of severe mental illness and about officers seeking advice and assistance when dealing with someone who is mentally ill. [100716]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeI understand that officers in both the Metropolitan Police and other forces in England and Wales receive formal training on mental illness as part of their probationer training. It is open to chief officers to provide additional training on this subject if there is a particular need for it. Home Office Circular 12/95 sets out advice for chief police officers and others on dealing with mentally disordered suspects or offenders, including the need to develop effective contacts with other local services and agencies. We have noted the recommendations of the Police Complaints Authority and will assess whether there is scope for further guidance to the police.