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Points to Consider

The Government is currently consulting on its offender health strategy and has asked Lord Bradley to review scope for diversion of the mentally ill and those with learning disabilities from the criminal justice system. It is also considering whether to resource and implement in full the recommendations made by Baroness Corston in her review of vulnerable women.

The gaps in mental health care have long been identified and cannot be tackled without significant ministerial commitment and investment.

Changing NHS practice and policy is notoriously difficult and appropriate care of the severely mentally ill may take a long time to achieve.

In 2004 the NHS hoped that treatment would be extended to all prisoners with serious mental health problems. However the evidence of high suicide and self-harm rates suggests that this is not working on the ground.

Existing diversion schemes may provide examples of good practice and demonstrate the need for a national network of such schemes. Community mental health services are also improving using assertive outreach.The inappropriate imprisonment of the severely mentally ill is a concern shared by all political parties. In 2007 the chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Mental Health and Penal Affairs issued a joint call for reform. Think tanks across the political spectrum from the Institute of Public Policy Research, to Policy Exchange are concerned about, and working on, this issue.

What can be done on this resolution?

Contact all MPs to discuss what action can be taken and to inform parliamentary debate. The Government, the opposition parties and experts working in the criminal justice sector accept that not enough is being done to stop the inappropriate imprisonment of the severely mentally ill. MPs could be lobbied to urge the Government to create a national network of diversion schemes and appropriate treatment options without further delay.

Get in touch with MPs, particularly those with a women’s prison in their constituency, to seek a positive response to the Corston Review and for the Government to actively set out to reduce the numbers of women in prison, especially those with mental health problems. 

Gather information – Audits could be carried out on the local mental health care services available, to establish what services are needed in the area. Audits could also be conducted with local police, magistrates and judges to gather information about the availability of diversion and liaison schemes in police stations and courts. This information could be used to inform a second stage of Lord Bradley’s  review. 

Inform others – Take opportunities to tell family, friends and any community groups to which you  belong about the inappropriate imprisonment of the severely mentally ill. WI members can also submit letters to local and national papers and call into   local radio stations.

Be active locally – Ensure that discussions and initiatives at local government level are informed about the reality of offenders who are mentally ill.  Useful bodies include: local authorities, Chairs of local and County Councils, local Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, Primary Care Trusts, local Health Authorities and Mental Health Trusts and the Local Government Association Safer Communities Coalition.

Volunteer – WI members could offer to help in, or set up, local centres designed to support people with mental health needs in the community and to help to resettle ex-patients and ex-prisoners.

Contact your local women’s prison – if there is a women’s prison in the area, your local WI can approach the Governor about voluntary opportunities linked with supporting women in the community to aid resettlement and to prevent further offending. 

Join local campaigns - Federations and WIs could join local campaigns with groups in their areas, such as MIND and Nacro.