PLACES OF SAFETY - Freedom of Information
Definition of a Place of Safety - Helpful Links
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The term 'Place of Safety is used in the Mental Health Act 1983, an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Section 136 of the Act gives Police Officers the power to detail an apparently mentally disordered person who is in a Public Place and is believed to be a danger to himself/herself or to others, to a 'Place of Safety' where they may be assessed by a Doctor.
Section 136 of the Act gives the Police powers to remove a person who is not in a public place, to a place of safety after the issue of a Warrant by a Justice of the Peace.
According to a unilateral statement by the Home Office, Places of safety should, typically, be Hospitals, other medical facilities, residential care homes or the home of a relative or friend of the person.
Police Stations should only be used as a Place of Safety as a last resort.
Section 136 of the Act gives Police Officers the power to detail an apparently mentally disordered person who is in a Public Place and is believed to be a danger to himself/herself or to others, to a 'Place of Safety' where they may be assessed by a Doctor.
Section 136 of the Act gives the Police powers to remove a person who is not in a public place, to a place of safety after the issue of a Warrant by a Justice of the Peace.
According to a unilateral statement by the Home Office, Places of safety should, typically, be Hospitals, other medical facilities, residential care homes or the home of a relative or friend of the person.
Police Stations should only be used as a Place of Safety as a last resort.
FOI Questions asked on 27 October 2019 under the Freedom of Information Act
1. How many patients have been admitted to the Place of Safety since 01 January 2019?
2. How many patients have waited for entry to this Place of Safety for more than one hour since 01 January 2019?
3. Please supply a copy of your Policy and Protocol for providing support and care for people detained under the
Mental Health Act, who are required to queue outside this Place of Safety when the Place of Safety is full.
4. What safeguards do you have in place to support people detained under the Mental Health Act, when there is no
capacity in a health-based Place of Safety?
1. How many patients have been admitted to the Place of Safety since 01 January 2019?
2. How many patients have waited for entry to this Place of Safety for more than one hour since 01 January 2019?
3. Please supply a copy of your Policy and Protocol for providing support and care for people detained under the
Mental Health Act, who are required to queue outside this Place of Safety when the Place of Safety is full.
4. What safeguards do you have in place to support people detained under the Mental Health Act, when there is no
capacity in a health-based Place of Safety?
Submitted Policies / Protocols - as per Point 3 above
South West London and St. George's Mental Health NHS Trust - Bed Management Policy - 23 May 2019
73 pages
73 pages