Boats against the current: vulnerable adults in police custody
| Published date | 01 March 2007 |
| Date | 01 March 2007 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200700003 |
| Pages | 15-24 |
| Author | Ian Cummins |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 9 Issue 1 • March 2007 ©Pavilion Publishing (Journals) Limited 15
key words
offenders
mental illness
custody officers
protection
abstract
One effect of the policy of
deinstitutionalisation has been to
increase police contact with people,
who are experiencing the effects of
acute mental illness. Policy
documents such as Home Office
circular 66/90 recognise that adults
with mental health problems are
especially vulnerable within the
criminal justice system. The overall
aim of policy is that vulnerable
adults should be diverted to mental
health services at the earliest
opportunity unless the offence is so
serious that this would not be in the
public interest. However, there is
little concrete evidence of the
success of this policy.The result is
that police officers have an
increasing role to play in working
with individuals experiencing acute
mental health problems. In this
process, custody officers have a key
role to play as decision-makers as to
whether the protections that PACE
(1984) offers to vulnerable adults
should apply.This article is based on
asmall-scale indicative research
study,which examined how officers
make these decisions and the
training that they receive relating
to mental health issues.
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Introduction
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act (1984) provided key
safeguards for the protection of vulnerable adults – that is,
adults with mental health problems or learning disabilities –
while in police custody. Along with the standard procedures and
rights such as the provision of legal advice and the taping of
interviews, such individuals have to be interviewed with an
appropriate adult present. Custody sergeants have a key role to
play in this process as they, in effect, carry out a risk assessment
of everyindividual who comes into custody.Advice on ensuring
the safety of those with mental health problems forms partof
Guidance on the Safer Detention and Handling of Persons in Police
Custody (ACPO, 2006). However, the guidance itself is not
comprehensive. In any event, for it to be followed successfully, it
is dependent on police officers making appropriate assessments
of individuals’ mental states. As outlined in this paper there are
anumber of obstacles here including: the lack of training police
officers receive in relation to mental health issues, and a police
culture, which, at times appears to be dismissive.
This article is based on a small-scale indicative study
carried out in 2006 with an urban police force. The project
was concerned with the process, by which custody officers
decide that the PACE (1984) safeguards should apply. Custody
officers have a central role to play
,as the decision that an
appropriate adult should be involved is one that they have, in
effect, to make. All individuals coming into police custody are
assessed as to whether they are fit to be detained. Custody
officers will carry out an initial screening exercise seeking
medical or other support as required. This is a fluid process,
but the initial decisions that are made are very influential. The
additional protections of PACE (1984) will not be applied if
the individual is not assessed as being vulnerable.
Boats against the current:
vulnerable adults in
police custody Ian Cummins
University of Salford
Research paper
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