This last week has brought a number of queries about the role of the police in restoring or maintaining order on psychiatric wards where disturbances have occured. This is a difficult and controversial subject because we have seen incidents on wards involving the police which have then become subject to protracted inquiries after deaths in […]

The government have today announced a review of sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This does not appear to be something that individuals can directly contribute to but the press release from the Secretary of State for Health makes it clear that this is a joint review with the home office and […]

NB: on 2nd June 2026, the UK Supreme Court issued a new judgment in the “AGoNI Reference” which sets aside Cheshire West with immediate effect and re-determines what a “deprivation of liberty” is, for the purposes of British domestics laws. This article is therefore no longer reflective of current law. We saw last week’s judgment […]