Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress she has made in implementing the recommendations of the Bradley Report on liaison and diversion of people with mental vulnerability in the criminal justice system.

Police forces work closely with local health and criminal justice partners to identify and deal appropriately with those taken into custody who may have mental ill health issues. Liaison and diversion schemes in police custody suites currently provide coverage for around 50% of the population of England. The Government recently announced provision of a further £12 million to extend this coverage to 75% of the population by 2017/18.

The Government has also committed £15 million to provide for additional health based places of safety to ensure that those detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act are not taken to police cells for want of a more appropriate place. Police cells were used as a place of safety on 2,100 occasions in 2015/16, a reduction of 54% on the previous year.