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Partnership - Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil & Bridgend

A Joint Thematic Inspection of the Criminal Justice Journey for Individuals with Mental Health Needs and Disorders

Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation has published a major report that finds the criminal justice system is failing people with mental health issues. 

The joint inspection was led by HM Inspectorate of Probation and supported by:

    HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate
    HM Inspectorate of Prisons
    Care Quality Commission
    Healthcare Inspectorate Wales.

Key findings:

    Thousands of people with a mental illness are coming into the criminal justice system each year but their needs are being missed at every stage.
    “Broken” system for sharing information between agencies, with confusion over data protection rules and incomplete/inaccurate records.

 

    Shortage of services and long delays to access them – made worse by the pandemic.

 

    Unacceptable delays in psychiatric reports for court and in transferring extremely unwell prisoners into secure mental health hospital beds for treatment.

The inspectorates make 22 recommendations to improve support for people with mental health needs. Recommendations include: agreeing a common definition of mental ill health in the criminal justice system; transferring unwell prisoners to secure mental health hospitals more quickly; and reviewing the way information is recorded and shared between agencies.

To read the full report, please select this link.

We have published a major report that finds the criminal justice system is failing people with mental health issues. The joint inspection was led by HM Inspectorate of Probation and supported by:
    HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate HM Inspectorate of Prisons Care Quality Commission Healthcare Inspectorate Wales.
Key findings:
    Thousands of people with a mental illness are coming into the criminal justice system each year but their needs are being missed at every stage. “Broken” system for sharing information between agencies, with confusion over data protection rules and incomplete/inaccurate records. Shortage of services and long delays to access them – made worse by the pandemic. Unacceptable delays in psychiatric reports for court and in transferring extremely unwell prisoners into secure mental health hospital beds for treatment.
The inspectorates make 22 recommendations to improve support for people with mental health needs. Recommendations include: agreeing a common definition of mental ill health in the criminal justice system; transferring unwell prisoners to secure mental health hospitals more quickly; and reviewing the way information is recorded and shared between agencies. Read 'A joint thematic inspection of the criminal justice journey for individuals with mental health needs and disorders'.
Posted on Thursday 2nd December 2021