Mental Health incidents and use of S136 powers
KEYWORDS
Mental, Health, Call, Incident, S136, Section 136, MHA, Act, Arrest, Age, Detention
PUBLICATION NUMBER
PUB 1109
PUBLICATION STATEMENT
Please note that this information is correct as at 17/12/2020 and may be subject to change. Essex Police aim to review and update this publication annually.
As with all publications of information by Essex Police, please note caveats may apply regarding the accuracy of data.
TITLE
Mental Health incidents and use of S136 powers
DATE RANGE
2016 - 2020
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Information relating to the annual number of Mental Health related calls to Essex Police and subsequent use of Section 136 powers granted under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Please note that figures provided are for incidents where Mental Health has been flagged as the final call type only, and do not include incidents which may have been flagged as a different incident type due to linked factors.
Incidents which have not been attended will also include duplicate calls, and occasions where another agency has dealt with the incident rather than Essex Police e.g. Social Care or Ambulance
Under S136, police have the power to remove an individual from a public place to a place of safety; in exceptional circumstances this may be a police station, but will also include hospitals, care homes and any other location as defined in Section 135(6) of the Mental Health Act 1983. Essex Police policy states any Mental Health investigation involving Detention under S136 Mental Health Act 1983 requires a Non-Crime Athena incident to be created. Figures for detention under S136 have been taken from these records.
Please be aware that after 2016 there was a process change within policing to reflect the current use of S136 powers, with police stations being used as a place of safety in exceptional circumstances only. Instances where a police station has been used as a place of safety i.e. police custody, are shown as arrest numbers where the arrest type was defined as S136 Mental Health Act arrest.
RELATED DOCUMENTS/LINKS
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1983/20/contents
https://www.app.college.police.uk/app-content/mental-health/mental-health-detention/
Essex Police Publication 1049 - Detentions under the Mental Health Act 2018-2020
FOI PUBLICATION
Number of incidents - Flagged
2016 9,835
2017 10,261
2018 14,037
2019 15,178
2020 13,590
Total 62,901
Number of incidents - Attended
2016 4,789
2017 5,044
2018 5,079
2019 5,093
2020 6,237
Total 26,242
Number of people detained under S136
2016 458
2017 513
2018 621
2019 622
2020 563
Total 2,777
Number of Under 18's detained under S136
2016 42
2017 37
2018 45
2019 50
2020 37
Total 211
Number of people arrested under S136
2016 173
2017 25
2018 26
2019 19
2020 17
Total 260
Number of Under 18's arrested under S136
2016 3
2017 0
2018 0
2019 1
2020 0
Total 4
Age of youngest person arrested under S136
2016 15
2017 N/A
2018 N/A
2019 15
2020 N/A
Total