South West pilot scheme aims to stop mentally ill breaking law

Cornwall has been chosen to pilot a new £400,000 scheme to help keep mentally ill people who have been arrested out of the criminal justice system.

The initiative will be trialled at custody centres in Launceston, Newquay and Redruth – the aim is to put mentally ill people under arrest in touch with specialists faster.

In particular the scheme is targeted at people who are in frequent contact with police.

Funded as part of national pilot scheme to establish Criminal Justice Diversion Teams, the money will be spent over the next two years.

This month three specialist mental health workers have already taken up posts as the county’s Custody and Outreach Team within Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CFT).

The trio will work with police, courts and probation services at the three custody centres.

Paul Bell, manager of the Criminal Justice Diversion Team and CFT’s forensic services, said: “By working with the police and other partners we’re aiming to pick up mental health need more quickly, reduce vulnerability and make local communities safer.

“Basing ourselves in the police’s custody centres enables us to work alongside neighbourhood beat officers and teams to prevent vulnerable people from becoming involved in crime in the first place and to offer more effective support to reduce the likelihood of repeat offending.

“Small numbers of people with mental health problems commit crime, but they often have a number of things in common which can help us to identify them and step in early.

“For people who find themselves in custody, basing staff together makes it easier for joint assessments to be made by the police, health and psychiatric services.

“Working together in this way allows us to divert people away from the justice system and into health and social care services when it’s appropriate.”

Cornwall is one of 20 pilots being run nationally before criminal justice diversion teams are set up across the country in response to the Bradley Report.

Published in 2009 the Bradley Report reviewed the experiences of people with mental health problems and learning disabilities in the justice system.

It made 82 recommendations aimed at reducing repeat offending, detentions and court appearances.

Devon and Cornwall Police, Cornwall Foundation Trust, the Institute of Health And Communities at Plymouth University and King’s College London are currently researching mental health and policing.

The study will help assess the impact of the pilot scheme.