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<p>I understand that, as of 13 May 2014, 36 of the 39 territorial police forces in England—plus British Transport police—are currently signed up to local protocols for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. The other three forces report that they are in the process of agreeing such protocols with local partner agencies.</p><p>The agreement of mental health protocols by local agencies is promoted at national level, including through</p><p>the Mental Health Act 1983 codes of practice and the new national Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, which states that:</p><p>“Every area should have a local protocol in place, agreed by NHS commissioners, the police force, the ambulance service and social services. This should describe the approach to be taken when a police officer uses powers under the Mental Health Act”.</p><p>The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat can be found at:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281242/36353_Mental_Health_Crisis_accessible.pdf</p><p>The Department of Health, supported by the Home Office and Mind, is encouraging local areas to sign-up to the principles of the concordat, with the expectation that all areas in England will have signed local declarations by December 2014. The Department of Health will publish details of the areas that have signed such declarations.</p> |