Under new government plans for England and Wales, people detained for mental health reasons will no longer be held in police cells. Currently, police cells can be used as a “place of safety” for up to 24 hours for assessment, but new legislation will prohibit this, aiming to modernize outdated mental health laws. The changes are largely welcomed by charities, though they stress the need for better funding.
The new legislation, which builds on proposals from a 2018 mental health review, will introduce additional rights for those receiving treatment. It also includes reforms such as a 28-day limit on detaining autistic people or those with learning disabilities unless they have a co-occurring mental health condition. This is intended to address systemic issues, including racial disparities and poor treatment of autistic individuals.
Labour’s proposed Mental Health Bill will also provide more rights for patients, including choosing a representative for their care and having a say in treatment preferences. Although the bill is expected to mirror some aspects of the draft Tory law, it will differ in allowing patients to draw up treatment plans.
Charities like the National Autistic Society and Mind support the bill but emphasize the need for sufficient funding to ensure these reforms are effective.