10 Mar 2015
A report published today by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has found that children, people who are mentally unwell and other vulnerable members of society are being locked in cells and sometimes unnecessarily criminalised because police custody is being used as a substitute for social and health care
National Policing Lead for Custody, Deputy Chief Constable Nicholas Ephgrave said:
“We are pleased that HMIC’s report acknowledges that the vast majority of vulnerable people detained by police are treated respectfully. It also recognises that more needs to be done by our partners in health and social services to prevent vulnerable people ending up in police custody: an outcome which rarely serves the best interests of children, people with mental ill health or dementia.
“We will work with the Home Office, the College of Policing and partners such as Health and Wellbeing Boards and Local Safeguarding Boards on the recommendations to ensure that when vulnerable people do need to be held in police custody, they are treated sensitively and appropriately, and that appropriate detail regarding all aspects of their detention is recorded.”
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