Safe conveyance of persons detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act

A Clinical Instruction has been produced to ensure the safe conveyance of persons detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act

Section 136 (S136) is a power given to police constables under the Mental Health Act 1983(1) (MHA)

 “If a person appears to a constable to be suffering from mental disorder and to be in immediate need of care or control, the constable may, if he thinks it necessary to do so in the interests of that person or for the protection of other persons detain and remove the person to a designated Health Based Place of Safety (HBPoS)”

Such detentions are dynamic in nature and can present unpredictable risk which remains active throughout the detention and subsequent conveyance to the HBPoS.

It is considered best practice to ensure that patient safety, privacy, and dignity are upheld at all times, with those detained under S136 conveyed in an appropriate ambulance vehicle.

At the point of detention the detaining police officer on scene at the incident will request an ambulance. The type of response provided will be determined by clinical need, restraint, and patient positioning.

You can view the Clinical Instruction here or download below.  The document can also be viewed through JRCALC+.

 

Published 25th January 2022